Press Release

PUC Approves Settlement for Smaller Than Requested Rate Increase for Bethlehem City Water Department

Published on 4/15/2021

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Numerous Other Service-Related Concerns Also Addressed

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a settlement that will result in a substantially smaller rate increase for customers located outside the City of Bethlehem who receive water service from the City of Bethlehem – as compared to Bethlehem’s initial rate request.

The Commission voted 4-0 to adopt a Joint Petition for Approval of Partial Settlement of Rate Investigation submitted by the City of Bethlehem and the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement.

The settlement will result in a distribution rate increase of $689,932 (8.4%) for customers located outside the City of Bethlehem. The rate increase approved today is approximately 25% lower than the $908,421 annual increase originally sought by the City.

Bethlehem Water provides water service in the City of Bethlehem and all or parts of eleven other municipalities in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, including approximately 13,496 customers outside the City limits and 22,940 customers inside the City. The PUC has jurisdiction over the water service provided to customers located outside the City.

Additionally, as highlighted by a statement from Commissioner Ralph V. Yanora, an agreement between the City and other parties in the case addresses other service-related concerns raised during the case, including:

• Testing of fire hydrants located outside the City,
• Scheduled maintenance, exercising and replacement of valves,
• Pressure surveys for the City’s four small community well systems,
• Further steps to address unaccounted for water and maintain a lower rate of lost water, and,
• Establishment of a complaint log system to track data on complaints about concerns like dirty water, taste, odor, color, customer property damage, leaking meter, request for meter testing, request for water testing, incomplete surface restoration, and lead service lines.
  
  

About the PUC

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 No.: R-2020-3020256

Contact:

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