Press Release

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

Published on 7/10/2025

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 (Pittsburgh Water) for water, wastewater, and stormwater services.

The Commission voted 5-0 today to suspend the rate change requests filed by Pittsburgh Water, which provides services to approximately 116,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

On June 4, 2025, Pittsburgh Water filed a multi-year rate proposal that would increase overall revenues for water, wastewater, and stormwater services by a total of $84.4 million – phased in over the next two years – including a combined increase of $63.6 million (25.4%) for the 2026 fiscal year, followed by an increase of $20.7 million (6.6%) for the 2027 fiscal year.

Proposed PWSA Rate Changes

The multi-year proposal submitted by Pittsburgh Water includes the following increases for various services:

• For water services, the request includes an increase of approximately $42.7 million (26.3%) for 2026, along with a $14.4 million (7%) increase in 2027.
• For wastewater services, the plan includes an increase of approximately $14.5 million (24.9%) for 2026, along with a $5.5 million (7.6%) increase in 2027.
• For stormwater services, the proposal includes increases of approximately $6.4 million (21.9%) for 2026, along with a $788,574 (2.2%) increase in 2027.
  
  

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, the scheduling of hearings and the issuance and recommended decision. More information on the ratemaking process is available on the PUC’s website.

As part of the investigation, the Commission will also begin scheduling public input hearings to gather testimony from concerned consumers and interested stakeholders. Dates, times, and locations for those hearings will be detailed in future PUC press releases. Consumers interested in sharing their perspectives are encouraged to follow Commission announcements for upcoming opportunities to participate.

A final PUC decision on the Pittsburgh Water rate increase requests is due by March 8, 2026.

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 X, 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-2025-3055010
R-2025-3055011
R-2025-3055012

Contact:

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