West Chester, Pa (January 24, 2024) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta reminded Pennsylvania American Water customers of upcoming opportunities to voice their opposition to the proposed rate increase that could see their water bills rise as much as 25 percent.
Pennsylvania American Water serves a population of nearly 37,000 through its Coatesville Water and Wastewater System, including those in Coatesville, Parkesburg, South Coatesville, and portions of Atglen, Caln, East Fallowfield, Highland, Sadsbury, Valley, West Caln, and West Sadsbury.
“Water and wastewater services are a basic necessity for health, wellness, and prosperity in our communities. This continued pattern of rate increases places an unsustainable burden on residents, families, businesses, and those on fixed incomes, like senior citizens, in communities across Chester County and the Commonwealth,” Comitta said. “I oppose this rate increase and am particularly concerned about its cumulative impact on families who are already shouldering rising consumer costs, as well as on revitalization efforts in Coatesville and the surrounding area.”
Under the proposals filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), the average monthly bills for a residential water customer in Rate Zone 1, based on 3,201 gallons of metered usage per month, would increase from $70.65 to $88.24 (24.9 percent). Changes to average monthly water bills in other PAWC rate zones vary from a 20.1 percent increase ($8.93 per month) to a 63 percent increase (approximately $34 per month).
For wastewater customers, the average monthly bill for a residential customer in Rate Zone 1, based on 3,122 gallons of metered usage per month, would fall from $105.18 to $100.08 (-4.8 percent). Changes to the average monthly wastewater bills in other PAWC rate zones vary from a 121.3 percent increase (nearly $35 per month) to a 4.8 percent decrease (nearly $5 per month).
The company is requesting the rate increases citing $1 billion in water and wastewater system investments it is making between 2024 and 2025. The proposed rate hike would raise its total annual operating revenues for water services by approximately $199.2 million (24.2 percent) and increase total annual operating revenues for wastewater services by approximately $4.7 million (2.5 percent).
Last month, the PUC suspended the rate increase requests to allow for a detailed investigation and analysis.
To give residents and ratepayers an opportunity to weigh in several public input meetings have been scheduled, including four telephonic hearings:
- Monday, Feb. 5, 2024
Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024
Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
If you wish to testify at public input hearings, you are encouraged to pre-register with the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) by Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the public input hearing, you may also contact the OCA to obtain the call-in information.
To pre-register for either in-person or telephonic public input hearings, contact the OCA by phone at 1-800-684-6560 or by email at consumer@paoca.org and provide the following:
- Your first and last name.
- The date and time of the public input hearing.
- A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing.
- Your email address (if you have one).
- If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
In addition, eight in-person public input hearings have been scheduled beginning January 29 at locations in Allegheny County, Scranton, Berks County, and Harrisburg. A full list of those dates and locations is available here.
PUC Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher P. Pell, Administrative Law Judge John M. Coogan, and Administrative Law Judge Emily DeVoe will preside over the public input hearings.
Consumers may file a formal complaint against the utility’s rate increase to become a party to the rate case by completing and submitting a formal complaint form available at https://www.puc.pa.gov/complaints/formal-complaints/. The docket numbers are R-2023-3043189 (for Water) and R-2023-3043190 (for Wastewater). Submitting a formal complaint can permit the customer’s position to become part of the record considered in the rate case.
Consumers may also submit an objection or comment to a proposed rate increase to be placed in the folder of the case by completing and submitting a comment form available at https://www.puc.pa.gov/complaints/formal-complaints/. Although a consumer’s comment or objection may be viewed by parties in the case, the judge, and the PUC, it will not be part of the record considered in the rate case.
The PUC regulates public utilities that provide electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and landline telephone service.
The latest Pennsylvania American Water proposed rate increase comes following a $138 million rate increase that took effect last year. Under it, water bills for a residential customer using an average of 3,212 gallons a month increased by an estimated $8.76 per month, from $60.48 to $69.24, a 14.5 percent increase. A wastewater bill for a typical residential customer increased by an estimated $30.00, from $76.65 to $106.65 per month, or 39.1 percent.
Pennsylvania American Water serves 681,707 water and 97,585 wastewater customers in 37 counties and is the largest regulated water and wastewater service provider in Pennsylvania.
A final decision by the PUC on the rate increase request is due by August 7, 2024.
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