Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Commissioners
5Upcoming Hearings
Hearing calendar data for this state is sourced directly from the official commission website.
View Official Calendar ↗Active Proceedings
1Docket No. R-2025-3053499
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania's general rate case seeking $55.6 million in annual revenue increases for system safety and modernization; PUC approved a settlement in 2025.
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State Intelligence
Updated May 26, 2026Utility Landscape
PECO Energy Company
IOUPhiladelphia and surrounding southeastern Pennsylvania counties; electric and gas service
Exelon subsidiary subject to active PUC oversight on infrastructure investment and reliability metrics. Filed a significant electric distribution rate case in 2024 seeking rate base recovery for grid modernization investments under Act 129 compliance obligations.
PPL Electric Utilities
IOUCentral and eastern Pennsylvania; approximately 1.4 million electric customers across 29 counties
PPL has pursued accelerated grid hardening under its Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP). Recent rate proceedings have focused on cost recovery for storm resilience and smart meter deployment under the PUC's Act 129 mandates.
West Penn Power (FirstEnergy)
IOUSouthwestern Pennsylvania; electric distribution serving approximately 730,000 customers
Operates under continued PUC scrutiny following FirstEnergy's federal compliance history. Recent proceedings involve LTIIP cost recovery and vegetation management spending justification.
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania (NiSource)
IOUStatewide natural gas distribution across multiple Pennsylvania regions; approximately 425,000 customers
Under ongoing PUC oversight for gas distribution system replacement under its Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) mechanism. Pipeline safety investments and methane leak reduction have been central to recent rate activity.
Peoples Natural Gas
IOUWestern Pennsylvania natural gas distribution; approximately 740,000 customers in greater Pittsburgh region
Following acquisition by Equitable Gas integration, Peoples has been active in seeking DSIC recovery for accelerated bare steel and cast iron main replacements. PUC has scrutinized rate design proposals affecting low-income customers.
Pennsylvania American Water (PAWC)
IOULargest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in Pennsylvania; service in over 400 communities statewide
Subsidiary of American Water Works; frequent rate case filer using the Distribution System Improvement Charge for infrastructure recovery. PUC has been active in scrutinizing acquisition premiums in PAWC's purchase of municipal water systems under the fair market value statute.
Key Issues
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Municipal water system acquisitions under Pennsylvania's Act 12 of 2016 fair market value statute: the PUC is actively reviewing several PAWC and Aqua Pennsylvania acquisition petitions, with ratepayer advocates challenging inflated purchase price premiums being passed through to customers via base rates.
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Natural gas infrastructure cost recovery and DSIC mechanism reform: the PUC's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement and OCA have raised concerns about whether Distribution System Improvement Charge filings by Columbia Gas and Peoples adequately document safety-driven necessity versus routine maintenance, prompting a potential rulemaking review.
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Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation program Phase V compliance: the PUC is overseeing implementation of updated EE&C targets for electric distribution companies including PECO and PPL, with contested proceedings over measurement and verification protocols and cost allocation between customer classes.
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Electric vehicle infrastructure and managed charging tariff development: PUC staff and electric IOUs are engaged in proceedings to develop EV-specific rate structures and utility-owned charging infrastructure pilot programs, with debate over stranded cost risk and the appropriate boundary between regulated and competitive EV services.
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Low-income customer affordability and universal service program funding adequacy: the PUC's ongoing review of LIURP, CAP, and CRISIS fund programs has intensified given post-pandemic arrears levels, with stakeholders pressing for revised income-based rate design and increased utility surcharge contributions.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for initial comments in PUC rulemaking docket regarding DSIC mechanism transparency and documentation standards for natural gas distribution companies; exact date subject to PUC secretarial letter confirmation.
Estimated evidentiary hearing date for Pennsylvania American Water base rate case pending before Administrative Law Judges; rate increase request involves capital recovery for PFAS treatment infrastructure and distribution main replacements.
Estimated PUC final order deadline for PPL Electric Utilities LTIIP Phase III plan approval; ALJ recommended decision expected in advance, with potential modifications to vegetation management and substation automation spending levels.
Estimated target date for PUC issuance of policy statement or rulemaking proposal on utility-owned EV charging infrastructure eligibility for rate base treatment, following closure of the current stakeholder comment record in the grid modernization investigation docket.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously confirmed Stephen DeFrank to a second term as Commissioner and PUC Chair on June 4, 2025; his new term extends through April 1, 2030.
Staff
226| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Charles | Director of Communications | (717) 787-9504 |
| Jennifer L. Berrier | Executive Director | (717) 783-8156 |
| Paul Diskin | Director, Bureau of Technical Utility Services | (717) 772-7777 |
| Bob C. Gramola | Retiree | (717) 783-1240 |
| Nils Hagen-Frederiksen | Press Secretary | (717) 772-7777 |
| Robert Horensky | Fixed Utility Engineer-Water/Wastewater | (717) 772-7777 |
| Kelly Monaghan | Deputy Executive Director | (717) 772-0312 |
| Daniel Mumford | Director, Office of Competitive Market Oversight | (717) 772-7777 |
| Mary Beth O'Hara Osborne | Director of Regulatory Affairs | (717) 772-7777 |
| Festus Odubo | Executive Policy Manager - Office of Vice Chair Kimberly Barrow | (717) 783-6181 |
| June M. Perry | Legislative Director | (717) 772-7777 |
| David E. Screven | Chief Counsel | (717) 787-2126 |
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