Peoples Requests Base Rate Changes to Continue its Pipeline Modernization Program
Investments support upgrades that improve safety, reliability and sustainability by removing aging, highest-risk pipes from service, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Today, Peoples Natural Gas (“Peoples”or “the Company”) filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) for a base rate increase to support its Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (“LTIIP”), among other operations and safety initiatives. The Company’s LTIIP involves the retirement and replacement of aging pipelines while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Peoples’ongoing LTIIP is the largest single infrastructure initiative in the company’s history.
Peoples’base rate request also provides for the recovery of the Company’s ongoing business costs. The request requires investigation and approval by the PUC, which may approve all, some or none of Peoples’request. The rate review process can take up to nine months, which means customers can expect any approved increases to take effect towards the end of December 2026 at the earliest.
“Since the start of our current modernization program in 2013, Peoples has replaced nearly 2,000 miles of pipelines with state-of-the-art infrastructure, creating a safer, more reliable gas delivery system for our customers,”said Peoples President Michael Huwar. “We’ve connected these infrastructure improvements with significant advances in gas metering technology and leak survey and repair, all of which combine to provide Peoples customers with a natural gas distribution system that leverages our local advantage in abundant, affordable natural gas. These upgrades also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting our efforts to decarbonize our operations in a sustainable manner. In 2025 alone, we replaced 187 miles of pipeline.”
“Peoples’ability to provide safe, reliable energy to millions of Pennsylvanians depends on the maintenance and upgrades of our critical infrastructure, including more than 15,000 miles of pipeline that serve more than 705,000 customers,”said Huwar. “Seeking efficiencies that keep costs as low as possible for customers is a core part of our mission, as is helping those struggling to make ends meet.”
Peoples requested base rate increase is $163.2 million annually. The requested increase in base rates supports the Company’s ongoing LTIIP safety investments of over $600 million annually. If the PUC approves the Company’s entire request, a Peoples residential customer who uses 86 Mcf annually would see a rate adjustment of $16.03 per month.
“We are here to help customers connect with programs and resources that make utility bills more manageable,”said Director of Community Assistance Programs Rita Black. “Anyone who is concerned about being unable to pay their bill is encouraged to review their options at Peoples-Gas.com/help or call 1-800-400-WARM.”
The process to modify base rates is transparent and involves multiple opportunities for public participation. Customers with questions about the proposed rates can visit Peoples-Gas.com/rates or call 1-800-764-0111 for more information.
