Press Release

PUC Holds Telephonic Public Input Hearings on Request by Pennsylvania-American Water to Acquire Butler Area Sewer Authority

Published on 7/13/2023

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Telephonic Hearings Scheduled for July 18 and July 19, to Gather Public Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced two telephonic public hearings to gather input on the application of Pennsylvania-American Water Company (Pennsylvania-American Water) to acquire the wastewater collection and treatment system owned by the Butler Area Sewer Authority and to furnish wastewater service to the public in Butler County.

PUC Public Input Hearings

Two telephonic public input hearings are scheduled for the following date and times:

• Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 6 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judge Marta Guhl will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you must pre-register with the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) by noon the day of the hearing.  Interested persons can pre-register by email to consumer@paoca.org or by phone at 1-800-684-6560 and provide:

• Your first and last name.
• The date (July 18 or July 19) of the hearing at which you wish to testify.
• The telephone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if we need to contact you.
• Your email address if you have one.
• If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

If you do not pre-register and provide the information listed above, you may not be able to testify.  Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.   

NOTE:  If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the public input hearing(s), you may do so by dialing the toll-free conference number below and enter the PIN number.

Toll-free Conference Number: 1-866-675-3641 

PIN Number: 37082098

Again, the deadline for signing up for the public input hearings is noon the day of the hearing.

Interpreters and Assistance Registering

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible.  If you register too close to the hearing date, we may not have enough time to arrange for an interpreter.  If you request an interpreter, we will make every reasonable effort to have one present. 

If you need assistance pre-registering to testify, you may have someone register for you, but they will need to provide all the information listed above.  Additionally, if more than one person in your household would like to testify, one person may pre-register for other individuals in the same household, but all the information listed above is needed for each individual testifying. 

Relay service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 1-800-654-5988.

Exhibits

If you intend to offer exhibits at the public input hearing, you please email your proposed exhibit(s) to consumer@paoca.org.  

Exhibits must be received by noon July 18, 2023.

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.

Pennsylvania-American Water Company’s Request

On April 10, 2023, Pennsylvania-American Water under Sections 1102(a) and 1329 of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Code, 66 Pa C.S. § § 1102(a) and 1329, applied for approval of (1) the transfer, by sale, to Pennsylvania-American Water, of substantially all of the assets, properties and rights related to the wastewater collection and treatment system owned by the Butler Area Sewer Authority, (2) the rights of Pennsylvania-American Water to begin to offer or furnish wastewater service to the public in the City of Butler, and portions of the Borough of East Butler, and portions of the Townships of Butler, Center, Connoquenessing, Oakland, and Summit, Butler County.

About the PUC

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.:  A-2022-3037047

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov