The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted in favor of an investigation into UGI Penn Natural Gas's proposal for a general rate increase on Thursday.

The PUC voted 5-0 to investigate the request, filed on Jan. 19. If approved, the rate increase could yield $21.7 million - a 10.4 percent jump - in yearly revenues.UGI PNG provides natural gas service for about 166,000 customers in 13 Pennsylvania counties, though it appears that Carbon, Monroe, and Schuylkill counties, which receive service from UGI Gas and UGI Central Penn Gas, will be unaffected if the increase goes through.According to the proposal, the average bill for a residential customer using 91.2 hundred cubic feet of gas per month will jump from $78.53 to $86.87, a 10.6 percent increase. Commercial customers using 29.6 thousand cubic feet of gas per month will go up from $194.25 to $216.60, an 11.5 percent increase.The Public Utility Commission, which is responsible for balancing the needs of consumers and utility providers, suspended the request for up to seven months, with the PUC's Office of Administrative Law Judge set to investigate and recommend a decision. Vice Chairman Andrew G. Place has issued a statement requesting information from the parties involved.A final decision is required by Oct. 20.