The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted Thursday to suspend and investigate a proposed rate increase by UGI Utilities Inc. – Gas Division (UGI) for natural gas distribution service to approximately 690,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 46 counties across Pennsylvania.

The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate UGI’s proposal to increase its annual operating revenues for natural gas distribution service by $110.4 million (9.7%).

Under the proposal, the average bill for a residential customer using 73.7 hundred cubic feet (Ccf) of natural gas per month would increase from $104.47 to $115.74/month (10.8%).

The rate increase request is suspended and will be assigned to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for evidentiary hearings and the issuance of a recommended decision. A final PUC decision is due by Oct. 28.