WEST CHESTER (Octubre 25, 2021) – Residents interested in officially weighing on Aqua Pennsylvania’s plans to raise water and wastewater rates have until Viernes, Noviembre 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:
- Lunes, Nov. 8, 2021 – Hearing will begin at 6 p.m.
- Martes, Nov. 9, 2021 – Hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Miércoles, Nov. 10, 2021 – Hearings will begin at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Viernes, 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:
- Tu nombre y apellidos.
- 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.
- Si necesita un intérprete para participar en la vista, el idioma del intérprete.
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:
- Tu nombre y apellidos.
- 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.
- Si necesita un intérprete para participar en la vista, el idioma del intérprete.
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 Noviembre 9 public hearing.
Aqua Water suministra agua a unos 434.264 clientes en más de 200 municipios de 32 condados de Pensilvania. Aqua Wastewater da servicio de aguas residuales a unos 40.284 clientes de más de 40 municipios de 15 condados de Pensilvania. En conjunto, las dos empresas prestan servicio a casi 1,5 millones de personas en toda la Commonwealth, incluidas muchas del condado de Chester y el sureste de Pensilvania.
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.