ELECTRIC, NATURAL GAS RATES TO GO UP TODAY

With today being December 1^st, expect electricity and natural gas rates to go up.

Penelec is expected to raise rates by 9.3 percent, from 9.703 cents per kilowatt-hour to 10.607 cents. Other increases have been reported by West Penn Power, Met-Ed and Penn Power, while some companies across Pennsylvania will see decreases.

Natural Gas rates will also increase by a substantial amount today. That includes customers of People’s Natural Gas Company, as they are expected to increase rates by 149 percent from roughly $1.23 per 1000 cubic feet to $3.08. This increase will also be seen by customers of Peoples Gas Company, LLC, the former T.W. Philips Gas Company.

National Fuel Gas Company customers will also see a rate increase, of 18.6 percent. Customers of Columbia Gas (-38.5 percent) and Valley Energy (-64.2 percent) will enjoy a rate decrease.

Just in time for the winter heating season, residential rates are also rising for thousands of Pennsylvania electricity and gas users starting December 1^st, when the quarterly “price to compare” is adjusted for each utility.

In the electricity marketplace, Penelec rates will rise 9.3 percent, from 9.703 cents per kilowatt hour to 10.607 cents. Met-Ed rates will go up 10.4 percent, while Penn Power will increase 6.4 percent and West Penn Power’s rates will increase by one percent. Rates charged by some of the state’s other major suppliers will go down, with the largest reductions being Wellsboro Electric’s 25.7 percent and Citizens Electric’s 18 percent.

The Price to Compare accounts for 40 to 60 percent of a customer’s total bill.

Natural gas prices are going to increase by a substantial amount for many starting next month, including customers of Peoples Natural Gas Company. Their rates will go up 149 percent, from $1.2337 per 1,000 cubic feet to $3.08. Peoples Gas Company LLC, the former TW Phillips Gas Company, will have the same increase.

National Fuel Gas Company customers will also see a rate increase, of 18.6 percent. Customers of Columbia Gas (-38.5 percent) and Valley Energy (-64.2 percent) will enjoy a rate decrease.

The Public Utility Commission maintains two websites for customers to compare rates and change suppliers. They are PAPowerSwitch.com and PaGasSwitch.com.

ELECTRICITY RATE CHANGES FILED WITH THE PUC, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1 (alphabetical listing):

Citizens’ Electric – From 13.333 cents to 10.964 cents per kWh (estimated) (-18%);
Duquesne Light – From 11.45 cents to 10.46 cents per kWh (estimated) (-8.6%);
Met-Ed – From 10.24 cents to 11.306 cents per kWh (10.4%);
PECO – From 9.672 cents to 8.919 cents per kWh (estimated) (-7.8%);
Penelec – From 9.703 cents to 10.607 cents per kWh (9.3%);
Penn Power – From 10.556 cents to 11.231 cents per kWh (6.4%);
Pike Co. Light & Power – From 7.3005 cents to 8.67 cents per kWh (18.8%);
PPL – From 12.126 cents to 11.028 cents per kWh (-9%);
UGI Electric – From 12.128 cents to 10.26 cents per kWh (-15.4%);
Wellsboro Electric – From 12.393 cents to 9.206 cents per kWh (-25.7%); and
West Penn Power – From 9.929 cents to 10.001 cents per kWh (1%).

NATURAL GAS RATE CHANGES FILED WITH THE PUC, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1: