On May 20, the Public Utility Commission voted to suspend and investigate rate changes proposed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority for water, wastewater and stormwater services.

The Commission voted 4-0 to suspend the rate change requests filed by PWSA, which provides service to approximately 100,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

On April 13, 2021, PWSA filed a proposed multi-year rate increase for water service that would increase PWSA’s total annual operating revenues for water service by approximately $12.6 million (10 percent) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2022, and by approximately $12.9 million (9.3 percent) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2023.

On that same date PWSA filed a proposed multi-year rate decrease for wastewater service that that would reduce total annual operating revenues for wastewater service by approximately $7.8 million (10.6 percent) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2022, and by approximately $7.5 million (11.4 percent) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2023.

Additionally, PWSA filed a proposal to establish a multi-year rate plan for storm water services that would increase total annual operating revenues for storm water service by approximately $17.8 million through rates effective Jan. 12, 2022, and by approximately $5.9 million (32.3 percent) through rates effective Jan. 12, 2023.

Ratemaking Process

The action by the Commission suspends the rate change request for up to seven months and the case will now be assigned to the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge for an investigation and recommended decision.

More information on the ratemaking process is available on the PUC’s website.

A final PUC decision on the PWSA rate cases is due by Jan. 12, 2022.

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-- PUC: Holds Hearings On PECO Electric Rate Increase June 8 & 9

[Posted: May 20, 2021]

5/24/2021