Press Release

PUC to Investigate Recent PA-American Water Company Outages

Published on 12/21/2006

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted 4-0 to start an investigation into the Pennsylvania-American Water Company’s (PAWC) Pittsburgh area outages that began on Dec. 10, 2006, as well as a November 2006 incident in Lackawanna County.

The investigation will include but is not limited to the utility’s compliance with the Public Utility Code and the Commission’s regulations and orders regarding safe and reliable water service.

“The Commission has a fundamental duty to ensure that public utilities provide safe, adequate and continuous service to their customers without unreasonable interruptions or delay in accordance with our regulations and orders,” said Commission Chairman Wendell F. Holland in a motion.  “Based on the information we have received, we feel that an investigation is warranted in this situation.”

The Commission’s investigation will include a determination whether:

• The utility responded to the outages in an effective and timely manner;
• Adequate resources were available to effectively respond to the situation in a timely manner;
• The public received adequate notice and were kept informed in a timely manner;
• Emergency response officials received notice and were kept informed in a timely manner;
• Adequate supplies of drinking water were provided and/or available at convenient locations; and
• Additional steps can be taken by the utility to mitigate main breaks and to respond to future outages in a timely and effective manner.

On Dec. 10, 2006, and continuing for several days, approximately 1,000 PAWC customers and two schools in the Pittsburgh area experienced extended outages. Similar issues arose in November 2006 when 2,000 PAWC customers in portions of Lackawanna County lost their water service.

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, 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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