Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

09/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2024 08:02

PUC Schedules October 7th Public Input Hearings for Proposed Rate Increase by Newtown Artesian Water Company

PUC Schedules October 7th Public Input Hearings for Proposed Rate Increase by Newtown Artesian Water Company

Published on 9/23/2024

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

In-Person and Telephonic Hearings Allow Customers in Bucks County to Offer Input on Impact of the Proposed Rate Increase for Water Service

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced two hearings in early October to gather public input on the rate increase proposed by Newtown Artesian Water Company (Newtown Artesian) for water service in portions of Bucks County.

Newtown Artesian provides water service to approximately 11,167 residential, business, public fire protection and private fire protection customers in Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, and the northern portion of Middletown Township in Bucks County.


PUC Public Input Hearings

The Commission will hold both an in-person as well as a telephonic public input hearing on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.

An in-person hearing has been scheduled for the following location and time:

Hearing will begin at 1 p.m.
Council Rock School District
Administration Building (Chancellor Center)
30 N. Chancellor Street
Newtown, PA 18940

Later that same day, a telephonic public input hearing will be held beginning at 6 p.m.

Administrative Law Judge Eranda Vero will preside over both public input hearings.


Pre-Registering for the Telephonic Public Input Hearing

Individuals wishing to testify at the telephonic public input hearing must pre-register by email or phone by noon on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. Individuals who do not pre-register and provide the necessary information may not be able to testify. Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.

To pre-register by email, please email the presiding officers' legal assistant, Pam McNeal, at [email protected], and provide the following:

  • Your first and last name.
  • The date and time of the hearing at which you wish to testify.
  • The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.
  • If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

To pre-register by phone, please call 215-560-2105 and leave a message providing the following:

  • Your first and last name.
  • The date and time of the hearing at which you wish to testify.
  • The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.
  • A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if it is necessary to contact you.
  • Your email address if you have one.
  • If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

If you do not wish to testify but want to listen to the telephonic public input hearing, please send an email to [email protected] or phone at 215-560-2105 and provide your name and the hearing date so that the Commission can ensure that it has adequate caller capacity on the conference bridge to accommodate all callers.

The deadline for signing up for the telephonic public input hearing is noon on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

Individuals pre-registered for the telephonic public input hearing must complete the following steps in order to be connected to the hearing:

  • Dial the toll-free bridge number below.
  • Enter the PIN number below when instructed.
  • Speak their name when prompted, then press #.
    Toll-free Bridge Number: (866) 560-8322
    PIN Number: 36676820

TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Service number for persons who are deaf of hearing impaired is: 711.

Individuals needing assistance or have questions about the public input hearing or the case may also call the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) at 1-800-684-6560 or email the OCA at [email protected].


Hearing Exhibits

If you intend to offer any exhibits at the public input hearing, you must email your proposed exhibit(s) to the legal assistant at [email protected] by October 4, 2024.

In your email, you must copy all individuals listed in the "full-service list" in the attached parties' list. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in you not being allowed to present your proposed exhibit(s). Proposed video evidence must be submitted in an mp4 format and cannot exceed 2MB. Proposed video evidence that does not meet these criteria will not be permitted.


Offering Testimony at a Public Input 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.

Newtown Artesian Rate Increase Request

On Aug. 22, 2024, the Commission voted 5-0 to investigate Newtown Artesian's proposal to increase its annual revenues for water service by $922,419 (14.1%).

Under the company's proposal, filed with the Commission on July 19, 2024, the bill for a typical metered residential customer with a 5/8-inch meter using 12,000 gallons of water per quarter would increase from $106.45 to $121.23 (13.9%). Additionally, Newtown Artesian proposes an increase in the fixed customer charge for residential customers from $22.71 to $26.90 per quarter (18.5%).

A final PUC decision on Newtown Artesian's rate increase request is due by April 18, 2025.

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 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-2024-3050208
C-2024-3050613
C-2024-3050625

Contact: