09/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/30/2024 08:21
Published on 9/30/2024
Filed under: Water and Wastewater
Pre-registration Deadline for Telephonic Hearing is Noon on Oct. 4th;
Hearings Allow Customers to Offer Input on Impact of Proposed Rate Increase for Water Service
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded consumers and other concerned parties about two hearings on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, to gather public input on the rate increase proposed by Newtown Artesian Water Company (Newtown Artesian) for water service in portions of Bucks County.
Please note, the deadline to pre-register for the telephonic public input hearing is noon on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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 October 7.
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:
To pre-register by phone, please call 215-560-2105 and leave a message providing the following:
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.
Individuals pre-registered for the telephonic public input hearing must complete the following steps to be connected to the hearing:
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:
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.
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Docket Nos.:
R-2024-3050208
C-2024-3050613
C-2024-3050625