City of Philadelphia v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

SIMPSON, Judge.

In these consolidated appeals from orders of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), we are asked whether under the Natural Gas Choice and Competition Act 1 (Gas Choice Act) the PUC can increase Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) municipal service rates without approval from Philadelphia City Council. We affirm, holding that City Council approval is not necessary.

The City of Philadelphia (City) is a home rule municipality. 2 The City owns PGW, a collective name for all the real and personal property by which the City furnishes gas to its customers and itself. See…