Tired of rising utility bills? Here's your chance to sound off

OLYMPIA - Tired of your utility bill going up?  Here's your chance to sound off.

If you're a Puget Sound Energy customer, the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. in Olympia regarding Puget Sound Energy's recent rate hike request, the Olympian reported. The hearing will allow public comment on a proposed four-year plan that could raise some electricity bills by 3.4 percent or $3.29 more per month, the paper reported. And rates for residential natural gas customers who use an average of 68 therms per month, could see their monthly bill increase 1.7 percent or $1.33.

The hearing will be held at 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive SW in Olympia.

The plan needs to be approved by the three-member UTC and after the commission makes its final decision, any rate changes could take effect as early as July 1.

Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million customers and about 750,000 natural gas customers in Western Washington.