PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands of Pennsylvania American Water customers can expect to pay a whole lot more next year for their water and sewer service. The state’s Public Utility Commission approved the rate hikes.
Water bills are going up by 14.5%. That amounts to about $9 more per month for a typical resident using 3,200 gallons.
Sewer service will see a real jolt — a 40% increase — which is about $30 more per month for a typical customer.
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These numbers were finalized in a settlement approved by the PUC. It’s a mixed outcome as Pennsylvania American Water had initially requested a 25% increase for both water and sewer. The company says they have been pushing for this increased revenue so they could spend more money on improvements to aging infrastructure throughout the system.
The process to approve the hikes, included a period of gathering public testimony. The customers opposed to the rate hikes included people on a fixed income, such as seniors. With prices for just about everything else inflated, they were concerned their budgets couldn’t absorb another hit.