On Tuesday, the Pepco filed a request with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia asking permission to boost rates by $66.2 million. They say it would work out to an average of $7.54 a month.

WASHINGTON — Pepco customers in D.C. may see slightly bigger bills in the new year: The utility wants regulators to sign off on a rate increase.

On Tuesday, the Pepco filed a request with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia asking permission to boost rates by $66.2 million.

“The increase to a typical residential customer’s monthly electric bill would be $7.54,” said Pepco region president Donna Cooper.

“Approval would allow us to recover a portion of the funds that we have invested in the electric distribution system in the District of Columbia.”

Pepco spent almost $90 million last year to improve customer service, as well as system safety and reliability.

By the end of this year, the utility expects to spend more than $96 million on things such as new control systems that can isolate problems and restore service, and upgrading or replacing old equipment.

Pepco also says that this year it has replaced more than 25 miles of aerial cable and replaced or installed another 11 miles of underground cable.