The parent company of West Penn Power will ask Pennsylvania regulators today to allow it to raise rates across its four utility providers, including a 5.7 percent rate increase at West Penn Power.

If approved, the new rates could take effect as early as June 27. It would be the company's second rate hike in as many years.

First Energy settled a rate increase request last year with the state Public Utility Commission that increased rates by about 13 percent. The company originally had asked for a rate hike of 14.7 percent. It was the first time the company had requested an increase to its base distribution rates in 20 years.

If approved, the total bill for an average residential customer would increase 9.64 percent, or $10.89, for a monthly total of $123.88. The bill for a commercial customer would increase 1.8 percent, or $16.58, for a monthly total of $959.86.

A complete report appears in Thursday's Butler Eagle.