A
Berks County-based natural gas utility is eyeing a plot of land in Lancaster
County to build a new headquarters.
UGI
Utilities, which distributes natural gas and electricity to customers in 45
Pennsylvania counties, confirmed today it is in the very early stages of
planning for a new headquarters in East Cocalico Township.
No
land has been purchased, and there is no building design at this time,
according to UGI spokesman Joseph Swope. He also said several years remain on
the lease of the company's current headquarters at 2525 N. 12th St. in Reading.
The
land UGI wants to purchase is a 32-acre plot in East Cocalico Township. Sitting
between Route 222 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the spot would provide UGI
with convenient access to customers in Central and eastern Pennsylvania.
“We’re
looking for a location that provides ready access to as much of our service
territory as possible,” Swope said.
The
property is currently being farmed, but it is zoned for light industrial. It is
owned by MC Realty Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Reading Health System.
UGI
is in discussions with MC Realty to purchase the land.
The
move to Lancaster County is still “several years away,” Swope said, but the
need to move stems from significant growth. UGI has added more than 80,000
customers in the past five years or so, and it has added two additional gas
utilities.
“We
need to relocate into a facility that reflects what UGI has become," Swope
said.
Lower
gas prices are spurring the company’s growth, as customers are paying
significantly less for natural gas than they were in the early to mid-2000s,
Swope said.
UGI
is set to increase its base rate for
commercial and residential natural gas on Oct. 19, following a Pennsylvania
Public Utility Commission settlement reached in August, according to previous
news reports.
The
increase will generate an extra $27 million for UGI.
Source: Central
Penn Business Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment