The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has voted unanimously to investigate distribution rate cases filed separately by FirstEnergy’s four Pennsylvania subsidiaries. The utilities’ requests have been suspended for up to seven months and will be assigned to an administrative law judge for public hearings and a recommended decision or settlement. A final decision will be made by May 3, 2015.

FirstEnergy subsidiaries Pennsylvania Power, West Penn Power, Metropolitan Edison and Pennsylvania Electric filed comprehensive distribution rate plans with the PUC on August 4, 2014. Each filing includes proposed revisions to distribution base rates (including higher and/or new monthly fixed charges), and generally attempts to move toward a standard rate design and a standard set of rules and regulations for all four utilities.

This is Penn Power’s first base rate case in 26 years and West Penn Power’s first base rate case in in 20 years. For Met-Ed and Penelec, these are the first base rate cases in eight years.