PUC to hold public hearings on Pa. American Water rate increase
FRACKVILLE – If you want to provide input in person on a proposed rate hike for water customers in the Frackville area, you’ll have to travel. Otherwise, you can call-in to a telephonic hearing.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is investigating Pennsylvania American Water’s proposed rate hike for their more than 682,000 water customers across the state.
In our area, they serve the Frackville area.
Eight in-person public input hearings will take place statewide, along with two telephonic hearings.
Each hearing is at least an hour’s drive away.
Two hearings will take place at Scranton University, 320 Madison Avenue, Scranton, on Jan. 15 at 1pm and 6 pm.
On Jan. 16, there will be a hearing in Harrisburg in the Keystone Building, 400 North Street, at 1pm and 6pm.
Finally, on Jan. 20, Reading’s Dunn Community Center will host two hearings, at 1pm and 6pm.
The PUC will also hold in-person hearings in southwestern Pennsylvania, in Washington County.
Two telephonic hearings will take place Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Preregistration is encouraged.
The call-in information for the two telephonic hearings is as follows:
- Toll-free Conference Number: 866-675-4281
- PIN Number: 85057514
To participate in a telephonic public input hearing, you’ll have to complete the following:
- Dial the toll-free Conference number above;
- Enter the PIN number above when instructed;
- Speak your name when prompted, and press #;
- Then, the telephone system will connect you to the hearing.
To pre-register, please email the PUC Judges’ Legal Assistant, Sumathi Jayakumar Raj, at [email protected] or call the Judges’ office phone at 717-787-4972.
If you want to be heard about the proposed rate increase but do not want or cannot testify at the public input hearings, you may file a formal complaint or comment on the proposed rate increase. Visit the PUC’s website to use the applicable form available.
Proposed Rate Changes
PAWC’s proposes an overall increase of $168.7 million (approximately 14.6%) in total annual operating revenues for water and wastewater service. As proposed, PAWC customers would have seen the following rate changes:
- For a typical residential water customer using 3,263 gallons a month, an increase ranging from $2.73 per month to $27.77 per month, an increase between 9.8% and 41.14%, depending on their service area.
A final PUC decision on PAWC’s rate increase requests is due by August 13, 2026.
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