The state Public Utility Commission this week will begin a series of in-person and remote hearings on Pennsylvania American Water Company’s rate increase request. Two in-person hearings will be held at four different sites, each at 1 PM and 6 PM, starting tomorrow at the nearest site to Indiana County, Port Vue, in Allegheny County. The other sites are Scranton, Berks County, and Harrisburg, between Tuesday and February 6th. Four telephone hearings will be held on February 5th and 7th, also at 1 and 6 PM.
The rate increase would amount to a 25 percent increase in the monthly bill paid by most residential customers, raising the average bill from $70.65 to $88.24 based on typical usage of 3,201 gallons in a month.
Commercial rates would increase 27 percent, to an average of $346.13 per month, and industrial rates would go up 32 percent, to an average of $10,173.68.
The rate increase request was filed November 8th last year. The revenue would help pay for $1 billion in water and wastewater improvements scheduled through mid-2025.
Pennsylvania American serves about 2.3 million customers in 37 Pennsylvania counties, including Indiana County. Its last rate increase was in 2018.
If you would like to testify at any of the hearings, you can find the information at puc.pa.gov.
