Press Release

PUC Reminds Pittsburgh Consumers of June 25 Sign Up Deadline for Late-June Public Input Hearings on PWSA Rates

Published on 6/24/2021

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Deadline is Noon on June 25 to Register for Telephonic Hearings to Gather Public Input from Pittsburgh area Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded Pittsburgh area consumers of registration deadline at Noon on Friday, June 25, 2021, for a series of telephonic hearings to gather public input on rate changes proposed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) for water, wastewater and storm water services.

PUC Public Input Hearings

The PUC telephonic hearings to gather public input on the PWSA rate change requests are scheduled for the following dates and times:

• Monday, June 28, 2021
• Tuesday, June 29, 2021
• Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Two hearings will be held on each of those dates, starting at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. 

PUC Administrative Law Judge Eranda Vero will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

To testify at these hearings using one of the following options, you must register no later than Noon on Friday, June 25, 2021.

Interested persons can register by telephone or online.

To register by phone, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate at 1-800-684-6560 to provide your name, telephone number and the topic of your testimony.

To register online, visit PWSA’s website at https://www.pgh2o.com/news-events/events-meetings, select public input hearing, and complete the registration form. 

If you wish to listen to the public input hearings – but not testify – you may use the PWSA website link to listen online, or use the following call-in information:

• Conference Number: +1 (312) 626-6799
  Meeting ID: 897 5883 3506

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearings, one copy must be emailed to the judge’s Legal Assistant at pmcneal@pa.gov and one copy each must be sent to every other party.  The active service list, with available email addresses, is attached to the notice for these input hearings. All copies must be received at least three 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 hearings, every reasonable effort will be made to have an interpreter present.  Please email the Legal Assistant by June 24, 2021, to submit your request.  The relay service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 800-654-5988.

Note:  Individuals representing themselves are not required to be represented by an attorney.  All others, including corporations, partnerships, associations, trusts, governmental agencies or subdivision, must be represented by an attorney.  An attorney representing you should file a Notice of Appearance before the scheduled hearing date.

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.
  
  

PWSA Rate Change Requests

On April 13, 2021, PWSA filed a proposed multi-year rate increase for water service that would increase PWSA’s total annual operating revenues for water service by approximately $12.6 million (10%) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2022, and by approximately $12.9 million (9.3%) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2023.

On that same date PWSA filed a proposed multi-year rate decrease for wastewater service that that would reduce total annual operating revenues for wastewater service by approximately $7.8 million (10.6%) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2022, and by approximately $7.5 million (11.4%) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2023.

Additionally, PWSA filed a proposal to establish a multi-year rate plan for storm water services that would increase total annual operating revenues for storm water service by approximately $17.8 million through rates effective Jan. 12, 2022, and by approximately $5.9 million (32.3%) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2023.

A final PUC decision on the PWSA rate cases is due by Jan. 12, 2022.

PWSA provides service to approximately 100,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

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.

# # #

Docket No.:
R-2021-3024773
R-2021-3024774
R-2021-3024779

Contact:

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