HARRISBURG, Pa.—The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission wants answers from a court before it moves forward with its role in carrying out Pennsylvania's new law regulating the rapid growth of natural gas exploration.

The utility commission said Thursday that it's seeking an explanation about the scope of a Commonwealth Court judge's injunction in a lawsuit challenging a portion of the law.

Agency spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher says it's delaying deadlines to finalize paperwork that local governments and companies will use to report to it. But Kocher says she doesn't expect a delay on the Sept. 1 deadline to collect the new fees on gas wells.

The agency is responsible to collect and distribute the fee revenue and review the legality of local ordinances that affect oil or gas operations.