People who heat their homes with natural gas supplied by UGI Utilities will see an increase in their bills.
UGI Utilities announced its purchased gas cost rates will increase Dec. 1. According to the company, the average residential heating customer’s monthly bill will be increasing by about 8.7%, raising the bill from $95.40 to $103.69.
“This increase reflects the general rise in wholesale natural gas supply prices,” Chief Regulatory Officer Paul Szykman said in a statement. “Despite this increase, natural gas continues to be a clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy choice for homes and businesses.”
By law, utilities are required to pass the cost of the natural gas they purchase directly through to customers without any markup.
Szykman said UGI recognizes some customers may have difficulty paying their heating bill. The company offers budget billing, as well as multiple payment options through its online account center and its automatic pay program to assist customers in managing bill payments.
In addition, customers with a limited or fixed income should visit ugi.com/customerassistance or call 1-800-UGI-WARM to determine if they are eligible for one of several energy assistance programs. UGI also can assist eligible customers in applying for federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program grants.
UGI is based in Lancaster County and serves more than 740,000 natural gas and electric customers in 46 counties, including Berks County.