Press Release

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled a hearing to receive public comment on the request of D’s Water Company to increase water rates in Palmerton, Carbon County, by $38,000 (300 percent).

Administrative Law Judge Richard M. Lovenwirth will conduct a hearing in:

• Palmerton, Carbon County, on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m., at Palmerton Borough Hall, 443 Delaware Ave.

Customer testimony will become part of the record on which the PUC will base its decision in the case.

The increase would affect 18 residential and six commercial customers served by D’s Water Company. Customer billing would change from quarterly to monthly and water usage would be calculated in gallons rather than cubic feet. A residential customer using 5,000 gallons per month would experience an annual increase of $632 from $52 per quarter to $70 per month. Formal complaints have been filed.

The company said the increase is necessary to recover its cost of providing water to its customers.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition.