The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announced two telephonic hearings in early June to gather public input on the rate increase proposed by UGI Utilities Inc. - Gas Division (UGI) for natural gas distribution services to approximately 650,000 residents and businesses in 45 counties across Pennsylvania.

Public input hearings for UGI’s request are scheduled for June 4, at 1 p.m. and at 6 p.m.

All parties will be participating via telephone and Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher P. Pell will be presiding.

People who wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing must contact the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate before 5 p.m. on June 1, to provide their name, telephone number and the topic of their testimony. OCA can be reached toll free at 1-800-684-6560.

Members of the public who wish to listen to the public input hearing, but not offer any testimony, must also contact the OCA by June 1.

Customers will testify in the order they signed up.

The UGI request, filed on Jan. 28, would increase its operating revenues by approximately $74.6 million per year (8.5%).

Under the UGI request, the total average monthly bill of a residential customer using 73.5 Cubic Feet (Ccf) per month would increase from $81.54 to $90.22 (10.6%).