Press Release

PUC Approves Smaller than Requested Water and Wastewater Rate Increases for Aqua Pennsylvania and Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater

Published on 5/9/2019

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a joint settlement which includes smaller than requested increases in rates for water and wastewater services provided by Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. (Aqua Water) and Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. (Aqua Wastewater).

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve the joint settlement with an annual water revenue increase of $42.3 million (9.8%) for Aqua Water, and an annual wastewater revenue increase of $4.7 million (34.6%) for Aqua Wastewater – for a combined annual revenue increase of $47 million (10.6%).  Under the joint settlement, approximately $7.1 million of the company’s wastewater revenue requirement will be recovered from water operations.

On Aug. 17, 2018, the companies originally proposed rate base changes that would have increased annual water revenues by $66.3 million (15.4%) and annual wastewater revenues by $5.4 million (40.1%) – or a total of approximately $71.8 million over present rates.

Under the joint settlement, the average monthly bill for a residential Main Division water customer using 4,080 gallons per month would increase $5.67, from $59.85 to $65.52 a month, or by 9.47%. The average monthly bill for a residential wastewater customer using 4,200 gallons per month would increase $8.91, from $57.64 to $66.55, or by 13.39%.

The joint settlement also provides for the merging of Superior Water Company, Inc. (Superior Water) into Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Aqua Pennsylvania, Superior Water currently provides water service in portions of Montgomery and Berks counties.

The settlement was supported by Aqua Pennsylvania; the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement; the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate; the Pennsylvania Office of Small Business Advocate; the Aqua Large Users Group; the Coalition for Affordable Utility Services and Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania; the Masthope Mountain Community Property Owners Council; Superior Water; and the Links at Gettysburg Master Association.

Aqua Pennsylvania provides water service to more than 433,000 customers in portions of more than 200 municipalities throughout 32 Pennsylvania counties.  Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater provides wastewater service to more than 21,000 customers in portions of more than 40 municipalities throughout 15 Pennsylvania counties.  Collectively, the two companies serve nearly 1.4 million people throughout the Commonwealth.

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-2018-3003558
R-2018-3003561
A-2018-3004108
A-2018-3004109

Contact:

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