HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted to investigate PPL Electric Utilities Inc.’s request to increase its electric distribution rates by $104.6 million (2.9 percent).

The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate the request.  Under the company’s proposal, the monthly bill for an average residential customer using 1,000 kWh would increase about $7 (6.3 percent) from $111.60 to $118.59 per month.

The request is suspended for up to seven months and will be assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judge for public hearings and a recommended decision or settlement. A final decision must be made by Dec. 31, 2012. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website.     

PPL provides electricity to about 1.4 million customers in 29 counties in central and eastern Pennsylvania.