THE Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission has yet to receive a petition from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation regarding its proposed utility rate increase.
Recently, the CUC Board of Directors approved the recommendation of its consultant, Economists.com, for a utility rate increase to be implemented gradually over five years, phasing out the government rate.
At a special meeting on June 23, the CUC board agreed to petition the CPUC to adopt the consultant’s recommended rate increase following a cost of service study.
However, according to CPUC Acting Chairman Dr. Jack Angello, “CUC has not submitted its petition yet.”
“The CPUC will begin the review and public hearing process once it receives the petition,” Angello added.
By law, the CPUC sets utility rates in the Commonwealth. Once it receives CUC’s petition for a rate increase, it must present the proposal for public comment within 45 days.
CUC’s consultants presented three scenarios for updating utility rates:
Scenario 1: A gradual five-year plan to phase in new rates.
Scenario 2: A one-time adjustment in the first year.
Scenario 3: A gradual five-year phased plan that also transitions government accounts to the same rate structure as commercial customers.
The CUC board approved Scenario 3.
According to CUC, under this plan, the average residential bill (electric, water, and wastewater) is expected to rise from approximately $184 to $218 per month by FY 2026. Customers using only electric and water services would see smaller increases, from approximately $170 to $185 per month by FY 2026.
