BUTLER TWP — Customers of West Penn Power will get a chance to speak about a proposed nearly 10 percent increase in electric rates at a hearing next week.

Officials from the parent corporation of West Penn Power will hold a public hearing at the Tanglewood Center, 10 Austin Ave., which will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 28.

It comes after First Energy asked Pennsylvania regulators in April to approve a hike to electricity rates at its four utility providers — Penn Power, Penelec, Met-Ed and West Penn Power — in the state.

The hike for West Penn Power, which covers much of Butler County, would increase rates 9.64 percent, raising the bill of an average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month from $112.99 to $123.88.

The bill for a commercial customer would increase 1.8 percent, or $16.58, for a monthly total of $959.86. The bill for an industrial customer would increase 0.8 percent, or $4,191.28, for a monthly total of $548,425.83.

In June the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted to investigate the request. The board’s vote suspends the rate increases from taking effect for up to seven months while the four public hearings are held.

The commission must make a final decision by Jan. 27, 2017.

The company said in April that the rate hikes were aimed at “enhancing electric system reliability for more than two million customers across the state.”

The plans include updating the company’s distribution grid, tree trimming, and updating digital equipment used by workers in the field working to restore power to customers.

West Penn Power has about 720,000 customers in 24 counties in Pennsylvania. First Energy owns 10 electric distribution companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York.