West Penn, Penn Power rate increases approved

Customers of FirstEnergy utilities including West Penn and Penn Power will pay more for electricity soon, though the rate increase will be lower than what the companies sought.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday approved a rate increase package that included concessions to which the utilities' Akron-based parent agreed in February. The rate increases apply to delivery of electricity, which accounts for about a third of a normal bill, are the first in more than 20 years for the companies.

Penn Power residential customers will pay 7.4 percent more — not the 11.8 percent increase the utility requested — putting the average monthly bill at $112.56. The average West Penn Power residential bill will go up 13.1 percent — down from the requested 14.7 percent — to $104.62. The two utilities have more than 1.8 million customers in Pennsylvania.