utilities Archives

Biden notes Pa.’s record low unemployment rate

U.S. President Joe Biden noted Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate for August, which remained at an historic low 3.5%, a figure that ranks below the national unemployment figure of 3.8%.

“Under Bidenomics, we have helped build one of the greatest stretches of job creation in American history, and Pennsylvania is leading the way with its second month in a row at its lowest unemployment rate on record,” Biden stated in an email. “The Bidenomics boom is in every corner of Pennsylvania. With record lows in areas from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, York to Erie, Scranton to Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania is leading America and America is leading the world again.”

The late rankings were released Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I). While Pennsylvania’s rate remains its lowest since January 1976, the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly by three-tenths of a percentage point.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment was 0.8% below its August 2022 level of 4.3%. The state’s civilian labor force, which is the estimated number of residents working or looking for work, increased by 1,000 in August. Resident employment rose by 6,000 from July and unemployment fell by 4,000.

Nonfarm jobs in Pennsylvania were up 15,800 in August to a record high of 6,164,500. It marks the eighth consecutive month that jobs have set a new all-time high level.

Eight of the 11 industry supersectors saw jobs increase in July, the largest gain (7,400) being in education & health services, which rose to a record high. Construction and trade, transportation and utilities also reached record high levels in August.

Nonfarm jobs for the year have increased by 153,800, with gains in all 11 supersectors. The largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors was in education & health services, which increased by 50,000.

Study reveals Pa. unemployment rate to be good news/bad news

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in February, but the state’s total nonfarm jobs reached a record high, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I).

The L&I’s preliminary employment situation report revealed that the state’s unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.4% in February, matching its level from February 2022.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percentage point from January to 3.6 but was down 0.2 percentage points from February 2022.

According to the L&I report, Pennsylvania has recovered more than 100% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the first two months of the pandemic. As of January 2023, the state’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – increased 8,000 over the month due to increases in both employment and unemployment.

The state’s nonfarm jobs were up 5,600 over the month to a record high of 6,094,400 in February. Six of the 11 industry super sectors reported job increases from January, the largest increase being in leisure and hospitality with gains of more than 3,000. Trade, transportation, and utilities jobs remained at a record high level.

Total nonfarm jobs were up 164,800 over the year with gains in all 11 super sectors. Education and health services saw the largest volume gain over the year with more than 53,600 jobs, while three other super sectors each saw increases of more than 19,000.

UGI Electric Division seeks rate hike

UGI Electric Division (IUGI Electric) is seeking to raise base rates for electric distribution by $11.4 million annually, increasing the average rate for residential customers by 8.9%, commercial customers by 10.8% and industrial customers by less than 1%.

The Denver-based company filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Friday saying the rate increase would fund ongoing system improvements and certain information technology investments necessary to support customer service activities and maintain safe and reliable electric service.

“UGI Electric is working hard to manage costs and improve system performance while continuing our commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity to our customers and the many communities we serve,” Eric Sorber, vice president and general manager- UGI Electric Division, said.

Sorber noted that since its last base rate case in 2021, UGI Electric has made and continues to make system investments to improve the quality and reliability of service to the company’s customers. These include construction of a new substation and upgrading of UGI’s Outage Management System.

“Adding anticipated investments included in this base rate increase request, UGI Electric will have invested nearly $70.5 million in the distribution system since the last time UGI Electric filed a base rate case,” Sorber said.

The investments include accelerated repair, replacement or improvement of aged and aging distribution infrastructure on its system and the ongoing upgrade of UGI Information Technology systems.

UGI Electric’s base rate increase request will impact only the delivery charge component of customers’ electric bills. The delivery charge, which this proposal would increase for certain customers, provides a utility with the funds needed to own, operate and maintain the electric distribution system and provide customer service and emergency response services.

If approved, the total bill for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month and receiving default power supply service from the company would increase from $192.73 to $209.96 per month or by 8.9%.

The total bill for a commercial customer using 1,000 kWh per month would increase from $199.06 to $220.49 per month or by 10.8% and an industrial customer using 50,000 kWh per month would increase from $6,455.07 to $6,475.18 per month or by 0.3 percent.

UGI Electric is requesting that the new electric rates take effect March 28, 2023. However, the PUC typically suspends the effective date for general base rate proceedings to allow for investigation and public hearings. The PUC proceeding is expected to last approximately nine months, which would delay the implementation of the new rates until fall 2023.

PPL names EVP and COO

PPL Corp. has promoted Francis Sullivan to executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Sullivan succeeded Gregory Dudkin effective Jan. 1. Dudkin is on extended medical leave and is not expected to return, PPL said.

Francis Sullivan

Sullivan will report to PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi and oversee Allentown-based PPL’s regulated utility operations, with the presidents of PPL’s Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island utility companies reporting to him. Dudkin will remain executive vice president while on medical leave.

“Greg has been an exceptional leader and colleague, someone who has always been focused on delivering the highest levels of service to our customers, developing high-performing teams and inspiring a culture of innovation within PPL,” said Sorgi.

“He will be missed, and we wish Greg and his family the very best as they deal with these difficult times,” Sorgi said. “At the same time, I have complete confidence in Fran and our operations leadership team as we continue our focus on creating the utilities of the future, executing our clean energy strategy and driving long-term value for our customers and shareowners.”

Sullivan brings more than four decades of energy industry experience to his new role. He joined PPL as vice president–Operations Performance on Oct. 1, 2021. Prior to PPL, he served as senior operations advisor for Kindle Energy LLC for more than two years and as an independent consultant to the power sector since 2018.

From 2008 to 2018, Sullivan served as NRG Energy’s senior vice president of operations and was accountable for one of largest portfolios of generation assets in the U.S. While at NRG, Sullivan was instrumental in driving operational excellence that resulted in a decade of continuous improvement in safety, environmental compliance, generation availability and operational efficiency, PPL said.

Prior to that, he served for more than a decade in a variety of leadership roles with Public Service Enterprise Group. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Union College and a master’s in business administration from Drexel University.

“Fran’s strong leadership skills, insight and experience will make him an excellent addition to our executive leadership team as we continue to transform PPL and to position it for growth and success in a changing energy landscape,” Sorgi said.

State PUC chairman elected president of MACRUC

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille has been elected as president of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commission (MACRUC).

Gladys Brown Dutrieuille –

In her remarks at MACRUC’s 27th Annual Education Conference, Dutrieuille noted the importance of collaboration and engagement as states work to address utility issues, underscoring “we are in this together.”

The organization includes utility regulators from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.

Dutrieuille emphasized the need to ensure that MACRUC remains a forum for discussing issues and concerns, even when those issues are controversial, and continues to be a strong resource for regulators.

Key issues facing regulators in the Mid-Atlantic Region and nationally include grid modernization, electric vehicles and related transportation issues, power transmission, renewable energy, cybersecurity and safeguarding critical infrastructure systems against natural disasters or human threats, she said.

Dutrieuille also serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) – which oversees the association’s general and financial functions and approves resolutions that serve as the association’s policy.

Previously, she completed three years as the chair of NARUC’s Committee on Critical Infrastructure. She is a member of the Critical Infrastructure Committee and serves as the chair of the Black Sky Subcommittee under NARUC’s Emergency Preparedness, Recovery and Resiliency Task Force, which explores utility issues related to weather emergencies and evaluated the national utility response to COVID-19.

She was also nominated by NARUC to serve on a joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission.

PPL Corp. promotes two executives to senior roles

From left to right: Stephanie R. Raymond, Gregory N. Dudkin

PPL Corp. of Allentown named Gregory Dudkin executive vice president and COO.

Dudkin brings 40 years of experience in energy and telecommunications operations to his new role. He has been serving as president of PPL Electric Utilities, the company’s electric utility subsidiary, since 2012. He joined PPL Electric Utilities in 2009 as senior vice president of operations.

Prior to joining PPL, he served as Comcast’s senior vice president of technical operations and fulfillment and as a regional senior vice president for the telecommunications company.

Stephanie Raymond, vice president of distribution operations, will succeed Dudkin as president of PPL Electric Utilities.

She joined PPL Electric Utilities in 2011 as director of project and contract management.

Before PPL Electric Utilities, she served as chief operating officer of CablenetServices Inc. and in numerous senior leadership positions for Comcast Cable Communications, General Fiber Communications, International Fibercom Inc. and All Star Telecom.

“As we strategically reposition PPL to focus squarely on high-performing energy companies in the U.S., the promotions of Greg and Stephanie will help us build on our strong performance record and create additional value for all stakeholders,” said Vincent Sorgi, PPL’s president and CEO.

In his new role, Dudkin will report to Sorgi and oversee PPL’s regulated utility operations in the U.S., with the heads of PPL’s Pennsylvania and Kentucky utility operations reporting to him.

In her new role, Raymond will oversee electricity delivery and customer service to 1.4 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania, as well as PPL Electric Utilities’ continued investments in infrastructure and technology to improve service to customers.

UGI seeks $75M annual rate increase

UGI Utilities Inc. of Reading, wants to raise its base rate by nearly $75 million a year.

The utility has filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to increase its base for residential, commercial and industrial customers by $74.6 million annually to help it recover costs related to system improvements to maintain safe natural gas service.

The company said its filing with the PUC includes more than $373 million in system investments for infrastructure, facilities and IT, not yet included in current rates.

“A significant part of our investment is an aggressive infrastructure betterment initiative designed to replace all non-contemporary pipelines with those made of contemporary materials,” said Christopher Brown, UGI vice president and general manager.

If approved, the rate increase request will impact the delivery charge portion of a customer’s bill.

The impact would be as follows:

For commercial customers: The total bill for a typical commercial heating customer using 28.7 mcf per month would increase from $251.83 to $273.05 per month or by 8.4 percent for customers in the former North rate district. For all other commercial heating customers, the total bill would increase from $262.21 to $273.05 per month or by 4.1 percent.
For industrial customers: The total bill for a typical industrial customer using 93.0 mcf per month would increase from $762.99 to $817.18 per month or by 7.1 percent for customers in the former North rate district. For all other industrial customers, the total bill would increase from $796.61 to $817.18 per month or by 2.6 percent.
For residential customers: The total bill for a typical residential heating customer using 73.5 ccf per month would increase from $81.54 to $90.22 per month or by 10.6 percent.

UGI said it is requesting that the new gas rates take effect March 28. However, the PUC typically suspends the effective date to allow for investigation and public hearings. The company expects those proceedings to last approximately nine months. That would make October a more likely target for customers to see any increase.

UGI rate consolidation both raises and lowers rates

UGI Utilities of Wyomissing changed the way it is billing its residential heating customers in Pennsylvania. The change will mean higher bills for some, but lower bills for others.

Effective Dec. 1, the utility will bill all customers under the same rate structure, eliminating its past practice of billing by rate districts. The change was part of a base-rate case settlement approved earlier this year by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that allowed a rate increase of $30 million.

The settlement allowed UGI to re-calculate average annual usage to be consistent across its service area. Average usage is now based on all residential heating customers in the state.

Average residential heating customers in the following districts using 89.2 Ccf (hundred cubic feet) annually will be affect as follows:

South District, a decrease from $84.33 to $78.98 or 6.3 percent.
Central District. An increase from $75.72 to $78.98 or 4.3 percent.
North District, an increase from $78.03 to $78.98 or 1.2 percent.

“Going forward, the ability for UGI to serve all of our customers under a single rate structure will offer a consistent and efficient means of ensuring the best value for all those who trust UGI as their energy supplier of choice,” said Chris Brown, vice president and general manager of rates and supply.

UGI Utilities Inc. serves more than 640,000 natural gas customers in 45 counties in Pennsylvania.

Public utility approves settlement that will increase water rates for Monroe, Northampton counties

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a settlement last week that gives Community Utilities an annual increase of $315,000, a 23 percent hike. The move means increases for the company’s water and wastewater service customers. (Thinkstock) –

Residents and businesses served by Community Utilities of Pennsylvania will face increases in water and wastewater service in Monroe and Northampton counties.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a settlement last week that gives Community Utilities an annual increase of $315,000, a 23 percent hike. It means a typical commercial customer served by Community’s Westgate division’s wastewater service in Northampton County will pay about $3 more per month, rising from $52.59 to $55.39, according to the settlement document. The company serves residents and businesses in Hanover Township, Northampton County.

A commercial customer served by Community’s Penn Estates division in Monroe County, which includes Stroud and Pocono Townships, would pay about $9 more per month, rising from $46.56 to $55.39 per month.

Meanwhile, for water service, a typical residential customer served by Community’s Westgate division will pay about 17 percent more, or $8 per month, rising to $54.37. A residential customer served by Community’s Penn Estates division would pay about 28.6 percent more, or about $12 per month, rising to $54.37.

The changes to volumetric water charges apply across all meter sizes per 1,000 gallons of water used each month. The utilities base the fixed monthly charges on meter size, which means the rate change depends on the size of the meter each business/commercial customer uses and the monthly volume of water consumed.

The new rates go into effect once Community Utilities files a tariff with the PUC matching the terms and conditions of the settlement.

The PUC voted 5-0 on Nov. 14 to adopt the settlement as recommended by Administrative Law Judge F. Joseph Brady.

In addition, the settlement consolidates the water rates in the Penn Estates Utilities Inc. and Utilities Inc.-Westgate service territories; and for wastewater service, consolidates rates for Penn Estates with the Utilities Inc. of Pennsylvania service territory.

Community Utilities could charge the rates for water and wastewater service after Jan. 1, 2020.

Community Utilities serves about 2,300 water customers and about 3,300 wastewater customers in portions of Monroe and Northampton counties.

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