WEST CHESTER (October 25, 2021) – Residents interested in officially weighing on Aqua Pennsylvania’s plans to raise water and wastewater rates have until Friday, November 5 at 4 p.m. to sign up to participate in a series of telephone public input hearings scheduled by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
The telephone hearings are scheduled for the following dates and times:
- Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 – Hearing will begin at 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 – Hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 – Hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 – Hearing will begin at 1 p.m.
PUC Administrative Law Judge Mary D. Long will preside over the hearings.
Aqua Pennsylvania’s proposed rate increase would raise average monthly residential water bills by up to 17 percent and average monthly wastewater bills by nearly 33 percent. Under the proposals, the average monthly bill for a residential water customer using 4,000 gallons per month would increase by $11.97, from $69.35 to $81.32. The average monthly bill for a residential wastewater customer would increase $18.44 (33.2%) from $55.51 to $73.95.
Those interested in participating in the hearings must register via email or by phone in advance to submit public input.
Registering by Email:
To pre-register by email, please email Judge Long’s legal assistant, Daniela Alban at dalban@pa.gov, and provide the following information:
- Your first and last name.
- The date and time of the hearing at which you wish to testify.
- The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.
- If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
Registering by Telephone:
To pre-register by phone, please call Judge Long’s office at 412-565-3550 and leave a message providing the following:
- Your first and last name.
- The date and time of the hearing at which you wish to testify.
- The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.
- A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if we need to contact you.
- Your email address, if you have one.
- If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
Providing Written Public Comment:
If you wish to submit written public comment, you may write a letter or complete the proposed comment form and send it to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, P.O. Box 3265, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
State Senator Carolyn Comitta, who has already written to the PUC in opposition to the increases, encouraged impacted residents and families to sign up for the hearings and make their voices heard. She plans to offer testimony at the November 9 public hearing.
Aqua Water provides water service to approximately 434,264 customers in portions of more than 200 municipalities throughout 32 Pennsylvania counties. Aqua Wastewater provides wastewater service to approximately 40,284 customers in portions of more than 40 municipalities throughout 15 Pennsylvania counties. Collectively, the two companies serve nearly 1.5 million people throughout the Commonwealth, including many in Chester County and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Aqua Pennsylvania’s last rate increase was filed in 2018 and became effective in 2019. It resulted in average water customers experiencing a nearly 10 percent increase and wastewater average customers shouldering a nearly 35 percent hike.
For more information on the ratemaking process, call the PUC at 1-800-692-7380 or visit the PUC website.