Press Release

PUC to Investigate Water, Wastewater and Storm Water Rate Changes Proposed by Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

Published on 5/20/2021

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted today to suspend and investigate rate changes proposed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) for water, wastewater and storm water services.

The Commission voted 4-0 today to suspend the rate change requests filed by PWSA, which provides service to approximately 100,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

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.

Ratemaking Process

Today’s action by the Commission suspends the rate change request for up to seven months and the case will now be assigned to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for an investigation and recommended decision. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the PUC’s website.

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

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-2021-3024773
R-2021-3024774
R-2021-3024779

Contact:

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