Daily News | Pennsylvania American seeks a 25% increase in water and sewer bills
Pennsylvania American water and wastewater customers would see their monthly bills increase about 25% next year under a $173.2 million rate increase request, which state regulators on Thursday agreed to examine more closely in a series of hearings.
If the company’s proposed rates are approved, a typical monthly water bill for a residential customer using 3,212 gallons a month would increase $15 next January, from $60.49 to $75.49. The typical monthly residential wastewater bill would increase $19.05, from $76.64 to $95.69. Aqua’s rates are quoted for customers using 4,000 gallons of water, which is greater than the 3,212 gallons that Pennsylvania American uses as a metric. Under Pennsylvania American’s proposal, a customer using 4,000 gallons would pay $89.10 for water and $115.66 for wastewater, higher than Aqua’s approved rates for the same amount.
In a statement, Pennsylvania American said it needed the higher rates because it is spending $1.1 billion this year and next to improve service reliability, water quality and fire protection across its system. That includes replacing 90 to 100 miles of aging pipeline in its 11,613-mile network of water and sewer lines.
Under the purchase agreement, the rate for York city customers will remain at $32.60 for three years, but then will go up by about 47%. Eventually, York customers can expect their current monthly rates to increase even more to match Pennsylvania American’s rates under a PUC policy to gradually unify the rates.