Press Release

PUC Announces Summer Hearings on Application of Greater Hazleton CAN DO Inc. to Expand Water Service in Luzerne County

Published on 4/10/2026

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Two telephonic hearings on July 7 will gather public input on the company’s request to expand and provide water service to a proposed data center

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that two telephonic public input hearings will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, regarding an application filed by the Greater Hazleton Community Area New Development Organization t/a CAN DO (CAN DO) to expand its water service territory in order to serve a proposed data center campus in Luzerne County.

In its application to the Commission, CAN DO seeks authority to provide water service to a parcel of land which is adjacent to its existing service territory at the Humboldt Industrial Park.  As proposed, CAN DO would acquire this land parcel located in Hazle Township, together with portions of Sugarloaf Township and West Hazleton Borough, all in Luzerne County – as well as abandon service in portions of Hazle Township and East Union Township, Schuylkill County. 

Residents and other concerned parties are welcome to participate in the telephonic public input hearings and provide their feedback on the company’s proposed plans.  PUC Administrative Law Judges Steven K. Haas and Emily A. Farren will preside over the upcoming hearings.  Testimony and comments shared during the hearings will be entered into the official record of this case and considered by Judges Haas and Farren and the Commission as they evaluate the company’s application, which was filed on Jan. 13, 2026.

Telephonic Public Input Hearings

Two telephonic public input hearings have been scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026 – with the first hearing beginning at 1 p.m. and the second hearing beginning at 6 p.m. 

Individuals may participate in either hearing by entering the following information:

• Toll-free Conference Number: 888-387-8560
• PIN Number: 69874953

After dialing the toll-free conference number, individuals will be prompted to enter the PIN number, speak their name, and press #.  The telephone system will connect them to the hearing.

Pre-registration to speak at a public input hearing is encouraged but not required.  Pre-registration is also not required for individuals who wish to only listen to a public input hearing but not offer testimony.

Pre-Registering for a Telephonic Hearing

To pre-register to testify on a telephonic public input hearing, please contact the PUC Judges’ Legal Assistant, Sarah Cavanaugh, by phone at 717-783-5179 or by email at sarcavanau@pa.gov and provide the following information:

• Your first and last name.
• The telephone phone 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 needed.
• Your email address, if you have one.

Anyone wishing to testify is encouraged to pre-register with the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge by 4 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026.  Those who pre-register will be called to testify at the hearing in the order in which they pre-registered.  Failure to pre-register for a telephonic public input hearing could result in you not being called to testify by the PUC Judge.

Assistance with Pre-Registration

If you need assistance pre-registering to testify, you may have someone register for you, but they will need to provide all the required information for each person intending to testify. 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 by providing the PUC Judges’ Legal Assistant with the necessary information for each individual.

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible. If you register too close to the hearing date, there may not be enough time to arrange for an interpreter. If you request an interpreter, the PUC will make reasonable efforts to have one present.  TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Service number for those who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 711

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the Legal Assistant at sarcavanau@pa.gov. The PUC Judge will forward your exhibits to all the parties. Exhibits for the telephonic public input hearings must be received by the Legal Assistant by Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

About CAN DO

CAN DO is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(6) economic development organization. It owns and operates both water and wastewater systems regulated by the Commission – serving approximately 120 commercial and industrial customers in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

CAN DO’s water system provides service in the Humboldt Industrial Park (located partly in Hazle Township, Luzerne County and partly in East Union Township in Schuylkill County); the McAdoo Industrial Park (located in Banks Township, Carbon County); and the CAN DO Corporate Center (located in Butler Township, Luzerne County). 

Questions

The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) represents the interests of utility customers before the PUC. The Pennsylvania Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA) represents the interests of small business utility customers before the PUC.  If you have questions about the public input hearings or the company’s application, please contact the OCA toll free at 1-800-684-6560 or by email at consumer@paoca.org.  Small businesses can contact the OSBA at 717-783-2525 or by email at osba@pa.gov.

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 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 No.: A-2026-3059809

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov