Press Release

PUC Approves Joint Settlement in Indiana Borough Sewer Rate Case Including Smaller than Requested Rate Increase

Published on 1/17/2019

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a joint settlement regarding rates for the wastewater system operated by the Borough of Indiana, which includes smaller than requested increases in monthly rates and utility annual revenues.

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve the joint settlement, which will increase sewer system annual revenues by $719,000 – which is approximately 18 percent lower than Borough’s initial request for an increase of $880,920.

The Indiana Borough Sewer system serves approximately 3,200 customers inside the Borough, along with nearly 4,000 customers outside the Borough – located in in White Township, Indiana County. The PUC has jurisdiction over rates that apply to those non-Borough customers.

The total revenue increase amount approved in the settlement involves wastewater system customers both within and outside the Borough boundaries.  The approved annual revenue increase that impacts customers outside the Borough boundaries, who are under the PUC’s jurisdiction, amounts to $316,816.

Under the terms of the settlement, the rates will increase across-the-board by approximately 27 percent for all customers, compared to a 33 percent increase in Indiana Borough’s original proposal. The monthly bill for the typical residential wastewater customer will increase from $12.57 to $15.95.

The settlement notes that the Borough’s last rate increase came in 2002, and the settlement approved today includes an agreement that Indiana Borough will not seek another general wastewater services base rate increase for at least two years.

The settlement was supported by the Borough of Indiana, the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement and the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate.

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 No.: R-2018-3003141

Contact:

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