HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) announced today that it has suspended a proposed natural gas rate increase that could have raised some residents’ monthly bills by more than 11%.

According to PUC, they have officially suspended a proposed rate increase by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Columbia Gas), which will allow a formal investigation into the company’s request to increase its natural gas rate.

This proposed increase would have resulted in a price increase for about 445,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 26 counties across its Pennsylvania service territory.

PUC says its commission voted 5-0 to investigate Columbia Gas’s proposal, which would have increased the company’s annual operating revenues for natural gas distribution by about $110.5 million.

Specifically, this rate increase would have risen residential customers’ monthly bills by an average of 11.4%

For example, if the customer was using 70 ‘therms’ per month, their $138.52 bill would have jumped up to $154.29.

“The proposed changes outlined in the Columbia Gas filing include a Revenue Normalization Adjustment mechanism to stabilize revenue regardless of fluctuations in customer usage; continuation and expansion of energy efficiency programs for residential and small commercial customers; and the establishment of an Economic Development Distribution Service tariff aimed at supporting large-volume customers,” PUC said in a news release.

Moving forward, the rate increase request is suspended and will be assigned to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for evidentiary hearings and the issuance of a recommended decision.

A final PUC decision is due by December 19, 2025.

As part of the ensuing investigation, PUC will begin the process of scheduling public input hearings to gather testimony from consumers and interested stakeholders.

Dates, times, and locations for these public input meetings will be announced at a later date.

For more information on the rate-making process, you can click here.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.