PUC Approves Citizens' Electric Rate Hike, Union County Bills Rise

Union County residents served by Citizens' Electric will see higher monthly bills after the state Public Utility Commission approved a settlement that trims, but allows, a portion of the company's requested increase. The PUC voted Jan. 15 to approve settlement terms for three utilities, and customers in parts of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania will face higher bills starting Thursday.

Citizens' Electric of Lewisburg originally sought a rate increase that would have generated about $1.79 million in additional annual revenues, roughly an 11 percent rise. The settlement approved by the commission reduces that to $1.39 million in higher rates, an 8.5 percent revenue increase. For a typical residential customer using 1,250 kilowatt-hours a month, the bill will rise to about $175.03 from $163.89, a roughly 6.8 percent jump. The fixed residential charge will increase to $15.00 a month from $13.10.

The change touches almost 7,200 customers in Union County, including households in Lewisburg borough, Buffalo and East Buffalo townships and parts of Kelly and West Buffalo townships. The higher fixed charge shifts more of each customer's monthly cost into a non-usage fee, a structure that can weigh more heavily on low-usage households and those trying to lower energy consumption.

The PUC vote also cleared settlements for Wellsboro Electric Co. and Valley Energy Inc. Wellsboro Electric, serving Tioga County, sought a substantial package; after investigation the commission approved rates designed to produce about $2.5 million in additional revenues, an increase of approximately 39.3 percent. Part of Wellsboro's increase goes into effect immediately and part is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 29, 2027. Valley Energy, which serves Bradford County, won approval for roughly $1.1 million in higher revenues, equating to about a 12.2 percent increase for a typical residential customer. The Valley Energy settlement also permits the company to raise its fixed residential charge.

The PUC's settlements reflect negotiated outcomes that cut back some company requests while still allowing sizable revenue gains. For Citizens' Electric customers, the final numbers mean higher monthly outlays and a higher baseline fee even if electricity use stays the same. Local municipal budgets and community organizations that provide energy assistance may see increased demand as households adjust.

Union County residents affected by the changes should review their January and February statements to compare usage and charges. The PUC's action follows utility filings from April 30 and a regulatory review process that resulted in the Jan. 15 approvals. The immediate effect is clear: household electricity expenses will climb, and the structure of bills will shift toward larger monthly fixed charges, a policy change with ongoing implications for affordability and conservation efforts.