Press Release

PUC Reminds Consumers of June 28 Registration Deadline for Public Input Hearing on Water and Wastewater Rate Increase Requests by Community Utilities

Published on 6/22/2021

Filed under: Consumer Education Water and Wastewater

Signup Required by June 28 for a Telephonic Hearing on June 29 to Gather Public Input from Concerned Individuals and Organizations

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded consumers and other concerned parties about the June 28^th registration deadline for a telephonic hearing on June 29, 2021, to gather public input on rate increase requests filed by Community Utilities of Pennsylvania Inc. for their water and wastewater divisions. 

If you wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing, you must register by Monday, June 28, 2021, at 1 p.m.  If you do not pre-register, you may not be able to testify.  

PUC Public Input Hearing

The telephonic hearing to gather public input on the rate increase requests is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, 2021, starting at 6 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judge Dennis J. Buckley will preside over the hearing.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearing

If you wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearing, you must contact the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) toll free at 1-800-684-6560 by Monday, June 28 at 1:00 p.m. to provide your name, telephone number you plan to use the day of the hearing, and the topic of your testimony.  Customers will testify in the order in which they signed up.

If you do not wish to testify, but want to listen to the public input hearing, you must still contact the OCA at 1-800-684-6560 to obtain call-in information.

Any persons that have not contacted the OCA by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 28, 2021, may not be permitted to testify at the telephonic public input hearing.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the OCA.

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, one copy must be emailed to Administrative Law Judge Dennis J. Buckley at debuckley@pa.gov and one copy each must be sent to every other party. The active service list, with available email addresses, is included in the hearing notice. All copies must be received at least five business days before the hearing. Proposed exhibits should be properly pre-marked for identification purposes. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in you not being allowed to present your proposed exhibit(s).

If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, we will make every reasonable effort to have an interpreter present.  Please email the Legal Assistant, Christina Biggica at cbiggica@pa.gov at least three business days prior to your hearing to submit your request.

The relay service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 800-654-5988.

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.
  
  

Community Utilities Rate Increase Request

Community Utilities has requested an increase in annual operating revenues for its water service of $757,517, or 36.6%.  The proposed changes would increase the annual bill for residential customers as follows:

• $652.44 to $849.84 for Penn Estates Division and Utilities Inc. of PA Division customers
• $464.44 to $849.84 for PA Utility Co. Division customers

Community Utilities has also requested an increase in annual operating revenues for its wastewater service of $998,705, or 37.4%. The proposed changes would increase the annual bill for residential customers as follows:

• $664.68 to $845.28 for Penn Estates Division customers
• $664.68 to $869.28 for Utilities Inc. of PA Division customers
• $952.80 to $869.28 for PA Utility Co. Division customers

Community Utilities of PA – Water Division provides water service in Stroud and Pocono Townships, Monroe County, a portion of Hanover Township, Northampton County, and portions of Lehman Township, Pike County.

Community Utilities of PA – Wastewater Division provides wastewater service in Stroud and Pocono Townships, Monroe County, a portion of West Bradford Township, Chester County, and portions of Lehman Township, Pike County.

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 Nos.:  R-2021-3025206; R-2021-3025207

Contact:

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