10/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2024 10:58
Published on 10/10/2024
Filed under: Water and Wastewater
Settlement Includes Scaled-Back Water and Wastewater Rate Changes and Enhanced Consumer and Public Safety Services
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a joint settlement that includes substantially smaller changes in water and wastewater rates for customers of Veolia Water Pennsylvania (Veolia), along with a series of enhancements to consumer and public safety services.
The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the Recommended Decision of PUC Administrative Law Judge Emily I. DeVoe and approve the joint settlement, which is supported by the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate, the Office of Small Business Advocate, the Coalition for Affordable Utility Services and Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania (CAUSE-PA), the PUC's independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, and Veolia Water Pennsylvania.
The rate changes included in the settlement are intended to produce $10.9 million in additional annual water revenues - which is a 30% reduction from Veolia's initial request - and $420,000 in additional annual wastewater revenues - which is 26% smaller than what the company was seeking.
The settlement also includes larger reductions in the overall rate changes for several smaller rate divisions in the Veolia system, including Bethel, Overbrook, Kensington and Mahoning. Veola had initially sought to more than double water rates in most of those areas, but the settlement includes nearly 50% to 86% reductions in the rate changes sought by Veolia.
Additionally, the settlement includes a series of enhancements to consumer and public safety services:
The rate changes addressed in the settlement will become effective as of November 1, 2024, following the filing of water and wastewater tariff supplements by Veolia.
Veolia serves 69,800 water customers along with 1,600 wastewater customers in 11 counties across Pennsylvania.
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.
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Docket Nos.:
R-2024-3045192
R-2024-3045193