Water Rate Hike Hearing

Both the Express-Times (read it here) and the Morning Call (read it here) have stories reporting on the Water Rate Hike held at the Nazareth VFW last night.

The Express reported:

Thursday's hearing, which drew about 40 people, including state regulatory officials, was the sixth of 12 around Pennsylvania, Meehan said. The state's largest water utility, Pennsylvania American has about 630,000 customers in 35 counties.

The company's last rate hike occurred in January 2004 for $38.4 million. It had sought $65 million.

The Call reported:

Those who live in Nazareth and Palmer Township will be some of the hardest hit, with hikes set at roughly 30 percent and 92 percent, respectively, water company attorney Thomas P. Gadsen said.

Company-wide, the average customer would have a 15 percent increase.

Nazareth Legion to Host PUC Hearing on Water Rate Hike

The Express-Times reports (read the article here) that the Nazareth American Legion will host a public hearing seeking input on the PA American Water proposed rate hike on August 16 at 7 p.m.

For most Nazareth area residents the proposed hike would add almost $11.00 to the monthly bill making it $45 per month.

PA American Water Rate Hike Proposal Considered

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) will investigate the PA American Water Company's request to raise rates according to an article in the Express-Times.

Nazareth area residents would likely see an $11.00 per month increase.

The company is seeking nearly $60 million in additional revenue to invest in new plant operations.

Hearings are likely.

Read the article here.

Read the previous NOC post here, which includes links to the Press Announcement and more detailed corporate explanation for the increase.

PA American Water Rate Hike Proposal

Residents using PA American Water received a letter noting that on April 27, 2007 the company requested a 14.73% overall rate increase, which will increase the company's revenues by $59M per year, from the PA Public Utility Commission.

You can read the announcement here.

You can read PA American Waters reasoning for the hike here.

You can visit the PA PUC web site here.