The thermostat is dropping day by day and utility bills are climbing.
The frigid weather has people cranking up the heat.
As many pay more to keep things warm in this extreme cold, utilities in the Lehigh Valley and beyond are seeking further rate increases.
UGI is requesting a nearly 9% rate increase for natural gas customers. It would add about $10 to the average residential customer’s monthly bill.
“It’s affecting everybody,” said Irene Ibemsi, a UGI customer.
It’s only January, but Ibemsi said he’s concerned about his, and other customers’, electric and natural gas bills through the rest of this winter season.
“We should pay the same bill every month already. The bill is too high,” said Ibemsi.
UGI’s latest rate increase request has launched a nearly-year long PUC investigation.
PPL is also asking the PUC for a 7% electric distribution rate increase. That would add about $13 a month to a typical residential customer’s bill.
The PUC said a final decision on PPL’s proposed rate increase is due by July 1st.
It’s an issue that Republican State Rep. Gary Day , who represents part of Lehigh County, said he has been working to address.
He introduced a bill, the Municipal Electric Ratepayer Protection Act, known as “MERPA”. It’s meant to help residents band together through their municipality and purchase in bulk, potentially securing better rates.
“Whether it’s electric, gas or oil, let residents decide and tell their municipality, ‘hey, we’d like to be in the group,'” said Day.
Day said the bill is it’s early stages.
In New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency on utility costs. The move freezes rate increases.
During a news conference last week, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he met with utility company leaders and will have more to say in his annual budget address.
“I intend to talk about next steps we’re going to be taking in this effort to be able to curb utility price hikes,” said Shapiro.