September 20, 2018 the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted to suspend and investigate proposed water and wastewater rate increases by Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. and Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc.
The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate the annual revenue and rate increase requests. Aqua Pennsylvania proposes to increase its annual operating revenues for water services by approximately $66.373 million (15.4 percent). Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater seeks a corresponding increase in its annual operating revenues for wastewater services by $5.369 million (40.1 percent). The total annual revenue increase request amounts to approximately $71.8 million.
Under the proposals, the average monthly bill for a residential Main Division water customer using 4,080 gallons per month would increase by $9.22 per month, from $59.85 to $69.07. The average monthly bill for a residential Media Division wastewater customer using 4,200 gallons per month would increase $20.73 from $42.19 to $62.92.
These revenue and rate increase requests are suspended for up to seven months and will be assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judge for evidentiary hearings and the issuance of recommended decisions or settlements.
Aqua Pennsylvania provides water service to more than 428,000 customers in portions of more than 200 municipalities throughout 32 Pennsylvania counties. Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater provides wastewater service to more than 19,000 customers in portions of more than 40 municipalities throughout 15 Pennsylvania counties. Collectively, the two companies serve nearly 1.4 million people throughout the Commonwealth.
Desire more specific assistance regarding PUC matters, representation in rate cases, utility ratemaking, or utility law, contact attorney Jeffrey A. Franklin at Prince Law Offices, P.C.