Electric and natural gas customers of Puget Sound Energy will be able to comment to state regulators on the utility’s proposed rate-increase request at two public meetings next month.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has scheduled the first meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the Bellevue City Hall Council Chambers, 450 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. The second meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 in the second-floor hearing room of the commission headquarters, 1300 S. Evergreen Park Dr. S.W., Olympia.

PSE has requested $160 million a year in new electricity revenues and $33 million a year in natural gas revenues. This would result in an increase of 8.1 percent, or $8.37 a month, for the average residential electricity customer. The typical natural-gas ratepayer would pay an additional 3 percent, or $2.84 a month, under PSE’s request.

The commission has received 340 public comments on PSE’s rate-increase proposal – 311 opposed, 2 in favor and 27 undecided. Customers who would like to comment on the case are encouraged to write the UTC at: P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, Wash. 98504, submit comments online at www.utc.wa.gov/comment, email comments to comment@utc.wa.gov or call toll-free 1-888-333-9882. The commission’s deadline for accepting public comments is Feb. 17.