Press Release

PUC Reminds Columbia Water Company Customers of Upcoming Public Input Hearings on Rate Increase Request

Published on 7/6/2023

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Registration Deadline is July 11 for Two Telephonic Hearings on July 12 to Gather Public Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding customers of the Columbia Water Company (Columbia Water), along with other concerned parties, about two upcoming telephonic public hearings to gather input on a Columbia Water’s rate increase request – impacting approximately 12,000 residential and business customers in parts of Lancaster and York counties.

PUC Public Input Hearings

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

• Wednesday, July 12, 2023
  The first hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m.
  The second hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m.

PUC Administrative Law Judges Mary D. Long and Charece Z. Collins will preside over the hearings.

The deadline for signing up for the public input hearings is 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you must pre-register with Judge Long’s office by 3 p.m. on Tuesday July 11, 2023.  Interested persons can pre-register by email to Judge Long’s legal assistant, Nick Miskanic, at nmiskanic@pa.gov or by phone at 412-565-3550 (leave a message) and provide:

• Your first and last name.
• The time (1 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.) 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), please contact Judge Long’s office to obtain the call-in information (same contact information as listed above) and provide your name and time(s) you want to listen to the public input hearing(s).

Again, the deadline for signing up for the public input hearings is 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

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 800-654-5988.

Exhibits

If you intend to offer exhibits at the public input hearing, you please email your proposed exhibit(s) to Judge Long at malong@pa.gov.  In your email to Judge Long you must copy all individuals listed in the “full-service list” in the attached parties’ list.  Failure to comply with these instructions may result in you not being allowed to present your proposed exhibit(s).  Proposed video evidence must be submitted in an mp4 format and cannot exceed 2MB.  Proposed video evidence that does not meet these criteria will not be permitted.

Exhibits must be received by July 11, 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.
  
  

Columbia Water’s Rate Increase Request

Columbia Water provides service to approximately 12,000 customers in Lancaster and York counties. Columbia Water’s proposal would increase rates by $999,900 (14.2%) per year.

Under the proposal submitted by Columbia Water, the bill for a typical metered residential customer using 3,800 gallons of water per month would increase from $37.67 to $40.04 (6.3%) for customers in the Columbia rate division, and from $32.57 to $40.04 (22.9%) for customers in the Marietta division.

Columbia Water provides service to customers in several Lancaster County communities, including Columbia, Mountville, and Marietta boroughs, as well as West Hempfield, Rapho, East Donegal and Manor townships. Columbia Water also provides service to customers in Hellam Township, York 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 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-2023-3040258

Contact:

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