04/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2024 07:44
Published on 4/15/2024
Filed under: Water and Wastewater
In-Person Hearings in Bloomsburg and Harrisburg Along with Ability to Participate Via Telephone Provide Opportunities to Gather Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded consumers and other concerned parties about upcoming in-person and telephonic hearings to gather public input on the rate increase request filed by Veolia Water Pennsylvania to increase annual revenue by $15.5 million (26.4%) for water services and $569,000 (34.8%) for wastewater services.
Veolia serves 69,800 water customers along with 1,600 wastewater customers in 11 counties across Pennsylvania.
PUC Public Input Hearings
An in-person public input hearing has been scheduled for the following:
A pair of combined in-person and telephonic input hearings have been scheduled for the following:
PUC Administrative Law Judge Emily DeVoe will preside over the public input hearings.
Participating in the Public Input Hearings
If you wish to testify at the in-person public input hearings in Bloomsburg or Harrisburg, no pre-registration is required. There will be sign-up sheets at all the in-person hearings.
If you wish to testify by telephone at either of the hearings on April 30 you are strongly encouraged to pre-register with the PUC Office of Administrative Law Judge to ensure you are identified as a witness and the judge will be able to call you to testify during the hearings.
To pre-register, contact the judge's legal assistant, Mary Swarner, by phone at 412-565-3555 or by email at [email protected] and provide the following:
Watching or Listening to the Hearings
All three in-person input hearings are open to the public. Additionally, the PUC will be live streaming the two Harrisburg public input hearings on the PUC website: https://www.puc.pa.gov/live-streaming/
To participate in the telephonic hearings, use the following information to access the conference bridge:
Hearing Exhibits
If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the judge at [email protected]. She will forward your exhibits to all the parties. Exhibits for the public input hearings on April 29 and 30 must be received by the judge by Friday, April 26, 2024.
Requests for Interpreters
If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, please pre-register as soon as possible. Every reasonable effort will be made to have an interpreter present. If you register too close to the hearing date, there may not be enough time to arrange for an interpreter.
Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing
The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:
Veolia Rate Increase Request
Under the proposals filed with the PUC by Veolia, the average monthly bill for a residential water customer using 3,500 gallons of water per month would increase from $49.64 to $60.79 (22%). For Veolia wastewater customers, the average monthly bill for a residential customer would increase from a flat rate of $56.20 to $77.00 (37%).
A final decision by the PUC on the rate increase requests is due by November 16, 2024.
About the PUC
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 X (formerly 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.
# # #
Docket Nos.:
R-2024-3045192
R-2024-3045193