Press Release

PUC Seeks Comment on Improvements to Prevent Water Service Outages for Beech Mountain Lakes Customers in Luzerne County

Published on 10/19/2006

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a tentative order regarding an investigation into frequent and lengthy water service outages for residential customers in the Beech Mountain Lakes development in Butler Township, Luzerne County, and began seeking comments on a plan to direct Total Environmental Solutions Inc. (TESI) to make improvements to its water service reliability.

"This Commission is responsible for ensuring reliable utility service for all Pennsylvanians," said Vice Chairman James H. Cawley. "Certainly, everyone needs to be able to depend on the water they need to drink, clean and cook. Since our investigation began, the utility has made strides to locate and repair leaks, reducing levels of outages and unaccounted-for water. Nonetheless, it appears that specific directives may be necessary, along with Commission monitoring, to achieve comprehensive, long-term improvements to ensure service reliability."

With today’s action, the PUC’s tentative order would direct TESI to:

• Cease and desist from further violations of PUC regulations regarding notification to the Commission during unscheduled outages;
• On a quarterly basis, report to the PUC on the number of outages, the number of customers affected and the duration of outages;
• On a quarterly basis, report to the PUC as to its ongoing progress to detect and repair leaks of the entire distribution system;
• Meet with the PUC to accurately determine its unaccounted-for water levels;
• Develop an accelerated schedule for future leak detection surveys, if the appropriately ascertained level of unaccounted-for water exceeds 20 percent;
• Replace existing black plastic pipe with "Type K" copper piping, in the event of service line replacement;
• Establish a policy, within three months, with the Beech Mountain Lakes Homeowners Association and Butler Township, to ensure that paving contractors do not pave over the valve box covers in the development; and
• Submit a report to the PUC within 30 days regarding the status of the two additional wells for which the Department of Environmental Protection has issued a construction permit.

TESI can request a PUC hearing on this tentative order within 20 days.

A Feb. 22 PUC Order noted that customers, living in the residential development known as Beech Mountain Lakes in the service territory of TESI, had informed the PUC that they had experienced frequent and lengthy water service outages during summer and fall 2005. Upon review of the information gathered during the informal investigation, the PUC notes that, although portions of TESI’s system facilities are adequately operated and in generally good condition, there is an overarching concern about the unreasonable level of outages that occurred in 2005 due to the number of leaks throughout the distribution system.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent new releases and audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. M-00061938

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