On June 12, the Public Utility Commission announced there will be six telephonic hearings in early July to gather public input on rate increases proposed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority for water and wastewater services to approximately 80,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

Hearing Schedule

Telephonic public input hearings for PWSA’s requests are scheduled for the following dates and times:

-- July 7: Hearings will begin at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

-- July 8: Hearings will begin at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

-- July 9: Hearings will begin at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Administrative Law Judges Mary Long and Emily DeVoe will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Hearings

Individuals who wish to testify at the telephonic public input hearings must register by Monday, July 6, 2020 at 1 p.m., either by calling the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) toll free at 1-800-684-6560, or by logging onto PWSA’s website and completing the registration form. 

On the day of the hearings, consumers will testify in the order they signed up.

If you do not wish to testify, but want to listen to the public input hearings, you may contact OCA by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2020 to obtain call-in information or use PWSA’s link at any time to listen to any of the public input hearings.

PWSA Rate Increase Request

Under the request filed by PWSA, a multi-year rate increase for water service would increase total annual operating revenues for water service by approximately $30.2 million (27.5 percent), effective January 1, 2021, and by approximately $7.2 million (5.7 percent), effective January 1, 2022.

PWSA has also filed a multi-year request to increase rates for wastewater service, increasing total annual operating revenues for wastewater service by approximately $13.6 million (21.8 percent), effective January 1, 2021, and by approximately $6.7 million (9.7 percent), effective January 1, 2022.

The combined proposals submitted by PWSA’s would increase the typical residential water and wastewater bill (for a customer using 3,000 gallons per month) from $72.49 to $86.31 per month (19.1 percent) in 2021.

In 2022, the PWSA proposals would increase that same monthly residential water and wastewater bill from $86.31 to $91.71 (6.26 percent).

Offering Testimony at a Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

-- Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.

-- Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.

-- Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

Information on this rate case may be found at Docket No.: R-2020-3017951 and  R-2020-3017970.

[Posted: June 12, 2020]

6/15/2020