Press Release

PUC to Investigate Rate Increase Requests for Several Water and Wastewater Utilities

Published on 5/18/2018

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted to investigate proposed rate increases submitted by several water and wastewater utilities, including Suez Water Pennsylvania Inc. (Suez Water), Hidden Valley Utility Services LP (Hidden Valley Water) and Hidden Valley Utility Services LP – Wastewater (Hidden Valley Wastewater).

The Commission voted 5-0 to suspend the proposed rate increases for up to seven months from the time the rates would have otherwise become effective, and to assign the cases to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for corresponding investigations and the issuance of recommended decisions. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website.

The Suez Water request, filed on April 30, 2018, would increase annual operating revenues by approximately $6.2 million (13.2 percent).  Under the Suez Water proposal, the total bill for a residential customer using an average of 3,500 gallons of water per month would increase from $43.94 to $48.85 (11.2 percent).

Suez Water provides services to approximately 60,400 customers in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Columbia, Luzerne, Wyoming and Schuylkill counties. A final decision by the Commission regarding the Suez Water request is due by January 29, 2019.

The Hidden Valley Water request, filed on April 28, 2018, would increase annual operating revenues by approximately $150,629 (107.2 percent). Under the Hidden Valley Water proposal, the average bill for a residential customer using 2,100 gallons per quarter would increase from $26.64 to $54.72 (105.4 percent).  For a customer using 9,000 gallons per quarter, rates would increase from $74.73 to $145.80 (95.1 percent).

The Hidden Valley Wastewater request, also filed on April 28, 2018, would increase annual operating revenues by approximately $185,432 (63.1 percent). Under the Hidden Valley Wastewater proposal, rates for the average residential customer using 2,100 gallons per quarter would increase from $59.76 to $96.42 (61.4 percent). For a customer using 9,000 gallons per quarter, rates would increase from $167.40 to $270.30 (61.5 percent).

Hidden Valley Water and Hidden Valley Wastewater provide services to approximately 1,200 customers in Somerset County. Final decisions by the Commission regarding the Hidden Valley requests are due by February 1, 2019.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket Nos.:
R-2018-3000834
R-2018-3001306
R-2018-3001307

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov