Press Release

PUC to Investigate Water and Wastewater Rate Increase Requests Filed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

Published on 4/16/2020

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to investigate proposed water and wastewater service rate increases submitted by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

The Commission voted 5-0 to suspend the proposed rate increase requests for up to seven months from the time the rates would otherwise have become effective, and to assign the case to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for corresponding proceedings and the issuance of a recommended decision.

Under the request filed by PWSA, a multi-year rate increase for water service would increase total annual operating revenues for water service by approximately $30.2 million (27.5%), effective January 1, 2021, and by approximately $7.2 million (5.7%), effective January 1, 2022.

PWSA has also filed a multi-year request to increase rates for wastewater service, increasing total annual operating revenues for wastewater service by approximately $13.6 million (21.8%), effective January 1, 2021, and by approximately $6.7 million (9.7%), effective January 1, 2022.

The combined proposals submitted by PWSA’s would increase the typical residential water and wastewater bill (for a customer using 3,000 gallons per month) from $72.49 to $86.31 per month (19.1%) in 2021.

In 2022, the PWSA proposals would increase that same monthly residential water and wastewater bill from $86.31 to $91.71 (6.26%).

Public input hearings to gather comments about PWSA’s rate increase requests from concerned residents will be scheduled by the Administrative Law Judge and publicized by the PUC and PWSA when dates and locations have been finalized. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website.

PWSA provides service approximately 80,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

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-2020-3017951
R-2020-3017970

Contact:

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