Press Release

PUC Announces Public Input Hearing on PAWC’s Proposal to Acquire Water & Wastewater Assets in Chester County

Published on 6/30/2021

Filed under: Consumer Education Water and Wastewater

A Telephonic Hearing is Scheduled for July 20 to Gather Input from Concerned Individuals and Organizations

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced a late-July telephonic hearing to gather public input on a proposal by Pennsylvania American-Water Company (PAWC) to acquire both the Valley Township (Valley) Water Treatment and Distribution System and Valley’s Wastewater Collection and Conveyance System in Chester County.

PUC Public Input Hearings

The PAWC public input hearing is scheduled on the following date and time:

• Tuesday, July 20, 2021
  Hearing will begin at 6 p.m.

Administrative Law Judges Conrad A. Johnson and Emily I. DeVoe will preside over the hearing.


Signing Up to Testify for the Public Input Hearings

If you wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing, you must register by Monday, July 19, 2021, at noon by using the following procedure:

• Contact the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) at its toll-free number, 1-800-684-6560.
  
  
• Provide OCA with your name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, organization (if any) and the topic of your testimony. This information will be kept private and will be provided only to the Administrative Law Judges and the lawyers for the parties in this proceeding.
  
  
• On the above date and time of the hearing, dial the following Toll-Free Number: 1-800-231-0316.

You must dial into the hearing to provide testimony.  You will not be called by the presiding Administrative Law Judges.

Any persons that have not registered with OCA by the registration deadline may not be able to testify during the public input hearing.  Please contact OCA at 1-800-684-6560 if you are unable to register by the applicable registration deadline, or if you require assistance in registering for the public input hearing.  

If you do not wish to testify, but want to listen to the public input hearing, on the above date and time of the hearing, dial the Toll-Free Number 1-800-231-0316.

Individuals representing themselves are not required to be represented by an attorney.  All others (corporation, partnership, association, trust or governmental agency or subdivision) must be represented by an attorney.  An attorney representing you should file a Notice of Appearance before the scheduled hearing date.

If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, we will make every reasonable effort to have an interpreter present.  Please call the scheduling office at the Commission at least ten (10) business days prior to the hearing to submit your request.

• Scheduling Office: 787.1399
• AT&T Relay Service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired: 800.654.5988

The Commission offers a free eFiling Subscription Service, which allows users to automatically receive an email notification whenever a document is added, removed or changed on the PUC website regarding a specific case.  Instructions for subscribing to this service are on the PUC’s website at http://www.puc.pa.gov/Documentation/eFiling_Subscriptions.pdf.

Participating in the Public Input Hearings

People pre-registered to testify during the hearings, along with parties interested in listening to the proceedings, must do the following:

• Dial the toll-free number listed below.
• Enter a PIN number when instructed to do so, also listed below.
• Speak your name when prompted – the telephone system will connect you to the hearing.
  
  Toll-free Bridge Number:              877.653.9972
  PIN Number:                                     29149724

PAWC’s Acquisition Proposals

On Oct. 9, 2020, PAWC filed two applications seeking Commission approval of the acquisition of Valley’s water treatment and distribution system, as well as acquisition of Valley’s wastewater collection and conveyance system. 

PAWC provides water and wastewater service to more than 400 communities across the Commonwealth with a combined population of over 2,400,000.  Valley provides water and wastewater service to nearly 1,700 customers in Valley Township and in a portion of West Caln and East Fallowfield Townships, Chester County.

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

• 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.
• Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

About the PUC

The PUC 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.

# # #

Docket Nos.:      A-2020-3019859
                        A-2020-3020178

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov