The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a rate hike for UGI Utilities’ natural gas customers. But the increase is smaller than what the company had asked for. The commission approved a hike of a little over six percent, resulting in an average of about six dollars more for the average bill. UGI had asked for nine-and-a-half percent. The increase was approved Thursday and will be phased in with a two-step process between now and October 2023.