Press Release

PUC Approves Lower Rate Increases than Requested by Community Utilities for Water & Wastewater Service in Monroe, Northampton Counties

Published on 11/14/2019

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a Joint Petition for Approval of Settlement highlighted by lower than requested increases in rates for water and wastewater services provided by Community Utilities of Pennsylvania, Inc. (Community Utilities), which serves residents and businesses in portions of Monroe and Northampton counties.

The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the settlement as recommended by Administrative Law Judge F. Joseph Brady.  The settlement consolidates the water rates in the Penn Estates Utilities, Inc. (Penn Estates) and Utilities Inc. – Westgate (Westgate) service territories; and for wastewater service, consolidates rates for Penn Estates with the Utilities Inc. of Pennsylvania (Utilities, Inc.) service territory.

Under the settlement, annual operating revenues for water service will increase by approximately $315,000 (23%), while annual operating revenues for wastewater service will increase by approximately $224,000 (12.3%).  Community Utilities’ initial requests, which were filed on April 1, 2019, sought to increase annual operating revenues for water service by approximately $362,019 (26.34%) and annual wastewater revenues by approximately $378,770 (20.8%).

For water service, a typical Penn Estates residential customer with a 5/8” meter using 4,000 gallons of water per month will see a monthly increase from $42.29 to $54.37 (28.6%); while a typical Westgate residential water customer with the same meter and using 4,000 gallons per month will see a monthly increase from $46.33 to $54.37 (17.4%).   

Meanwhile, for wastewater service, a typical Penn Estates residential customer with a 5/8” meter will see a monthly increase from $46.56 to $55.39 (19%); while a typical residential customer of Utilities Inc. with the same meter will see a monthly increase from $52.59 to $55.39 (5.3%).

The new rates become effective when Community Utilities files a tariff with the Commission matching the terms and conditions of the settlement – which was supported by the company; the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E); and the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate.  

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 No.:   R-2019-3008947
                        R-2019-3008948

Contact:

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