PGW rates to go up next week

Monthly rates for Philadelphia Gas Works customers will increase next week by about $4.50 on the average residential bill.

Cameron Kline, spokesman for the city gas utility, said the higher charge reflects a rate increase granted in July by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, as well as the quarterly adjustment in the cost of the natural gas PGW buys for its customers.

About one-third of the increase is attributed to higher gas costs, he said. The rest - about $2.84 of the $4.50 monthly increase - is attributed to the higher delivery charge, the cost regulated by the utility commission.

Residential heating customers, who make up most of the utility's 500,000 customers, will pay $1.60 per 100 cubic feet of natural gas beginning Sept. 1, up from $1.49.    - Andrew Maykuth