Press Release

PUC to Investigate Rate Increase Requests by Community Utilities for Water & Wastewater Service in Monroe & Northampton Counties

Published on 5/9/2019

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to investigate proposed rate increases for water and wastewater service by Community Utilities of Pennsylvania Inc. (Community Utilities), which serve residents and businesses in portions of Monroe and Northampton counties.

The Commission voted 5-0 to suspend the proposed rate requests for water and wastewater service and to assign the case to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for corresponding proceedings and the issuance of a recommended decision.

The Community Utilities requests, which were filed on April 1, 2019, would increase operating revenues for water service by approximately $362,019 per year (26.34%) and wastewater revenues by approximately $378,770 (20.8%) per year.

More information on the ratemaking process is available on the Commission’s website. A final decision by the Commission regarding the rate increase requests is due by Jan. 1, 2020.

Under the Community Utilities requests, the service territories formerly known as Penn Estates Utilities, Inc. and Utilities Inc. – Westgate would be consolidated into single rates for water, and the service territories formerly known as Penn Estates Utilities, Inc. and Utilities Inc. of Pennsylvania would be consolidated for wastewater service.

The Community Utilities water request would increase the average monthly water bill for a customer in the former Penn Estates Utilities territory from $41.86 to $53.43 (27.64%), while the average monthly water bill for a customer in the former Utilities Inc. – Westgate territory would increase from $45.53 to $53.18 (16.78%).

Additionally, the wastewater request by Community Utilities would increase the average monthly bill for a wastewater customer in the Penn Estates service territory from $46.56 to $59.55 (27.9%), while the average monthly wastewater bill for a customer in the former Utilities Inc. of Pennsylvania territory would increase from $52.59 to $59.55 (13.23%).

Community Utilities serves approximately 2,800 water customers and approximately 3,300 wastewater customers in portions of Monroe and Northampton counties.

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 Nos.:
R-2019-3008947
R-2019-3008948

Contact:

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