Press Release

PUC Schedules Public Input Hearings in Aqua PA Rate Increase Request

Published on 2/23/2010

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled hearings to receive public comment on the proposed rate increase by Aqua Pennsylvania Inc.

Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Angela Jones will conduct the hearings at:

1 p.m. Feb. 24, 2010

Honesdale Chamber of Commerce Building

32 Commercial St.

Honesdale, PA 18431

7 p.m. Feb. 24, 2010

Kingston Township Municipal Building

180 East Center St.

Shavertown, PA 18708

1 p.m. March 3, 2010

Radnor Township Building

301 Iven Ave.

Radnor, PA 19087

7 p.m. March 3, 2010

Hatboro Borough

Loller Building

414 S. York St.

Hatboro, PA 19040

7 p.m. March 4, 2010

East Goshen Township Building

1580 Paoli Pike

West Chester, PA 19380

Also, a telephonic hearing will be held at 2:00 p.m. March 8, 2010. If you wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing, you must contact the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) before March 2, 2010, at 5 p.m., to provide your name, telephone number, and the topic of your testimony.  You may call the OCA toll free at 1-800-684-6560.  Beginning at 2 p.m. on March 8, 2010, consumers will testify in the order they signed up.

On Jan. 14, 2010, the Commission initiated an investigation into Aqua’s proposed 43.2 million (11.8 percent) annual increase. The request is suspended for up to seven months and will be assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judge for public hearings and a recommended decision or settlement. A final decision must be made by Aug. 18, 2010. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website.     

Under the company’s proposal, the average yearly bill based on annual usage of 50,400 gallons for residential customers would change as follows:

• $579 to $645 (11.4 percent) in Main Division, Bristol, Fawn Lake Forest, Woodledge, Western Tanglewood Lodge, Thornhursts, Roaring Creek, Shenango Valley;
• $413 to $625 (51.2 percent) in Applewood and Marienville;
• $403 to $520 (29 percent) in Bensalem;
• $573 to $625 (9.1 percent) in Eagle Rock;
• $566 to $625 (10.3 percent) in Hop Bottom, Sunset Hills, Warden Place, Oneida, Floral Estates, Jefferson Heights, Mt. Cobb, Midway Manor;
• $484 to $625 (29.2 percent) in Stanton and Wapwallopen;
• $351 to $437 (24.5 percent) in Masthope;
• $503 to $625 (24.5 percent) in Pine Crest;
• $466 to $625 (34 percent) in  Garbush;
• $493 to $625 (26.7 percent) in Rivercrest;
• $240 to $300 (25 percent) in County Club Gardens, Maple Hills and Springhouse Farm;
• $540 to $627 (16.2 percent) in Hedgerow;
• $346 to $482 (39.5 percent) in Oakland Beach and Lakeside Acres;
• $354 to $470 (33.1 percent) in Honesdale;
• $342 to $461 (35 percent) in Clarendon;
• $413 to $546 (32.1 percent) in Emlenton; and
• $421 to $570 (35.1 percent) in Kratzerville. 

No rate increase is proposed for customers in Chalfont, White Haven, Core Village and Washington Park.

Aqua PA provides service to about 406,050 customers in portions of the following Pennsylvania counties: Adams, Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Delaware, Forest, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Montgomery, Monroe, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Snyder, Wayne, and Wyoming.

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 issue its final decision. The PUC and state Office of Consumer Advocate offer tips on how to participate.  They include:

• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand.  Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
• Bring copies.  If you have a written statement you would like to give to the judge as evidence, please bring two copies for the court reporter and several copies for the other participants.

• Plan to be questioned.  Parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

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 news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket no. R-2009-2132019

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722