PUC Reminds Consumers of Registration Deadlines for Public Input Hearings

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded consumers and other concerned parties about upcoming registration deadlines for a series of mid-july telephonic hearings to gather public input on rate changes proposed by the Pennsylvania-american Water Company (PAWC) and PAWC'S Wastewater Division (PAWC-WD).

PUC Public Hearings

The PUC telephonic hearings to gather public input on the PAWC rate change requests are scheduled at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. for the following dates:

• Tuesday, July 19, 2022

• Wednesday, July 20, 2022

• Thursday, July 21, 2022

PUC Deputy Chief Administrative Law

Input

Judge Joel H. Cheskis will preside over the hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

To testify at a telephonic public input hearing, you must register no later than 3 p.m. on the day before you wish to testify. Interested persons can register by telephone or online.

To pre-register, please contact the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) by phone at 1-800-684-6560 or by email at consumer@ paoca.org and provide:

(1) your first and last name;

(2) the date and time (1:00 pm or 6:00 pm) of the public input hearing;

(3) the phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing;

(4) a phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if we need to contact you;

(5) your email address if you have one; and

(6) if you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

To participate in the public input hearings, you may use the following call-in information:

Toll-free Bridge Number: 877-931-3508

PIN Number: 32041174

(NOTE: Please speak your name when prompted, and press #)

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearings, please email them to the OCA at consumer@paoca. org. The OCA will forward the exhibits to the Judge and all parties. Exhibits must be received by 3 p.m. the day before you intend to testify.

If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearings, every reasonable effort will be made to have an interpreter present. You may contact the OCA by phone at 1-800-6846560 or by email at consumer@paoca.org to pre-register for an interpreter.

NOTE: Individuals representing themselves are not required to be represented by an attorney. All others, including corporations, partnerships, associations, trusts, governmental agencies or subdivision, must be represented by an attorney. An attorney representing you should file a Notice of Appearance before the scheduled hearing date.

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.

PAWC Rate Change Requests

On June 16, 2022, the PUC voted to suspend and investigate rate increase requests by PAWC and PAWCWD. PAWC'S requests for rate increases in its water and wastewater rates were filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022, and, collectively, would increase the Company's total annual operating revenues by approximately $173.2 million (20.8%).

For water service, PAWC proposes an increase in the company's total annual operating revenues for water service by approximately $154.4 million (21.6%). For its wastewater division, PAWC proposes an increase in the company's total annual operating revenues for wastewater service by approximately $18.7 million (16.1%).

A final PUC decision on the PAWC rate cases is due by Jan. 28, 2023. PAWC and PAWC-WD presently provide water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.3 million people in 37 counties across Pennsylvania.