Press Release
PUC Announces Public Input Hearings in PA-American Rate Increase
Published on 7/26/2007
Filed under: Water and Wastewater
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled 10 hearings to receive public comment on the proposed rate increase for Pennsylvania-American Water Company.
Administrative Law Judge Robert P. Meehan will conduct the hearings at:
7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, 2007
POCMONT Resort & Conference Center
Panorama Room
Bushkill Falls Road
Bushkill, PA 18324
1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007
Scranton State Office Building
Room 318
100 Lackawanna Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007
Holiday Inn
Friday’s 2 Banquet Room
880 Kidder Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007
American Legion Post 415
Banquet Room, Basement
158 S. Main Street
Nazareth, PA 18064
1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, 2007
*Presiding Officer will be Judge Herbert Smolen
Montgomery County Courthouse
Court Room D
Ridge Pike
Main & Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19404-0311
7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, 2007
Country Inn & Suites – Wyomissing
The Carlson Room
405 North Park Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610
7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007
Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center
Governor B Room – Hotel Side
1150 Camp Hill Bypass
Camp Hill, PA 17011
7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007
Ellwood City Municipal Building
2nd Floor Auditorium (use rear entrance of building and take elevator to 2nd Floor)
525 Lawrence Avenue
Ellwood City, PA 16117
1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007
West Mifflin Municipal Building
Borough Council Chambers
3000 Lebanon Church Road
West Mifflin, PA 15108
7p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007
*Presiding Officer will be Judge John H. Corbett Jr.
Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department
161 Vanadium Road
Bridgeville, PA 15017-3025
On April 27, 2007, PA-American filed a request for a rate increase of $59.2 million (14.7 percent). Under the company’s proposal the annual bill for an average residential customer using 54,000 gallons of water would increase:
- About $72, from $468 to $540 (15.36 percent) in the Main Division;
- About $18, from $429 to $447 (4.19 percent) in Acquisitions;
- About $162, from $377 to $540 (42.95 percent) in Connoquenessing;
- About $253, from $287 to $540 (88.13 percent) in Rustic Acres;
- About $128, from $412 to $540 (30.89 percent) in Reading;
- About $260, from $279 to $540 (92.97 percent) in Palmer;
- About $240, from $300 to $540 (80 percent) in Winona Lakes;
- About $261, from $278 to $540 (93.88 percent) in Blue Mountain Lakes;
- About $130, from $280 to $410 (46.15 percent) in Pine Ridge; and
- About $123, from $280 to $403 (43.74 percent) in Pocono Farms.
The change in rates will affect all 630,185 customers in some way. PA-American serves customers in 35 counties.
The public input hearings are part of a Commission investigation into the proposal. The Commission has until Jan. 26, 2008, to make a final a decision at a public meeting in Harrisburg.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings and provide comments. Customer testimony will become part of the record on which the PUC will base its decision in the case. The PUC and state Office of Consumer Advocate, which represents residential customers in rate cases, offer tips on how to participate. They include:
- Sign in to testify when you arrive. The judge will call witnesses to speak from the order they have signed in.
- Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it’s not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
- Bring copies. If you have a written statement or have other papers you want to give the judge as evidence, please bring copies with you.
- Bring an original, two copies for the court reporter and several copies for active participants in the case.
- Your testimony will not become part of the record in the case unless you affirm that the testimony you are about to give is truthful.
- Plan to be questioned. Sometimes, parties in the case may want to ask you a question about something you said. Listen to the whole question. Answer as best you can. It’s OK if you don’t know the answer.
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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Docket No. R-00072229
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