Press Release

PUC Approves Little Washington Wastewater Co.’s Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan and Distribution System Improvement Charge

Published on 9/12/2013

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved the petition of Little Washington Wastewater Co. (LWWC) to approve its long-term infrastructure improvement plan (LTIIP) and institute a distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) to fund the infrastructure improvements.

The Commission voted 5-0 to approve LWWC’s LTIIP and DSIC, which was filed in compliance with Act 11 of 2012. 

Under LWWC’s LTIIP, the company’s five-year plan will increase its projected capital investment for replacing/refurbishing aging wastewater collection and conveyance systems and systems with significant infiltration and inflow issues from about $630,000 a year to $1.9 million per year.  LWWC has developed and is applying Geographic Information System (GIS) based tools to help identify and prioritize specific wastewater collection components for replacement and rehabilitation.  LWWC’s collection and conveyance systems are comprised of approximately 87 pump stations, 327 miles of pipe and 2,929 manholes.  LWWC provides wastewater service to about 18,560 residential, commercial and industrial customers across 13 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Portions of the issues relating to tax issues on the DSIC filing were referred to the Commission’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for further hearings. 

On Feb. 14, 2012, Governor Corbett signed Act 11 of 2012, which allows jurisdictional water and wastewater utilities, natural gas distribution companies, city natural gas distribution operations, and electric distribution companies to petition the Commission for approval to implement a DSIC. Under the law, the DSIC must be designed to provide for "the timely recovery of the reasonable and prudent costs incurred to repair, improve or replace eligible property in order to ensure and maintain adequate, efficient, safe, reliable and reasonable service.”

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. 

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Docket Number P-2013-2366873

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