A 10.5 percent rate increase could affect customers of West Penn Power starting in January. The company recently announced plans to ask the Pennsylvania Utility Commission for permission to increase this rate in order to fund infrastructure improvement and help mitigate lower electricity consumption. This increase would come after last year’s 13 percent increase, which company officials say is a result of nearly 20 years of unchanged rates. In addition, customers of Penn Power could also see their rate increase by 13 percent. Many Chippewa Township residents are customers of West Penn Power.