HARRISBURG, Pa.- Water and sewer bills will soon be on the rise for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania American Water Company (PAWC) customers.
On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved a rate increase for PAWC. It’s much smaller than the overall total that was first requested. But, while the increase won’t be as dramatic as it could have been for water customers, sewer customers might be in for an unpleasant surprise.
Late last year, the utility said it intended to seek a $143.4 million water rate increase (approximately 15%), and a more than $16.1 million wastewater rate increase (approximately 7.7%), for a total revenue increase of nearly $160 million.
PAWC said the increase would support $1.2 billion in ongoing water and wastewater service system investments through 2027.
The order approved by the PUC cuts the overall increase dramatically, to $74.9 million.
That breaks down to an increase of $45.3 million (approximately 4.75%) for PAWC’s water operations, and an increase of $29.6 million (approximately 14.17%) for the company’s wastewater operations.
To put it more plainly, the approved water increase is much lower than what was proposed. The sewer increase is not.
How that will break down for an individual bill has not yet been finalized.
A spokesperson for the PUC told 69 News that full details of all the various changes initiated by the commission will be available in the coming days when the final opinion and order is posted.
The spokesperson said the PUC would pass along any additional information about bill impacts as soon as that information is available.
When PAWC made its initial request last year, it said residential water customer would see an increase of approximately $14 per month; sewer customers would see an increase of approximately $10 per month; and customers with both systems would see an increase of approximately $20 per month.
The new rates will take effect on and after August 13, 2026.
PAWC last filed for an increase in water distribution and wastewater base rates in 2023.
Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, with about 697,980 water customers and 117,050 wastewater customers.
The company provides water service to 21 counties in Pennsylvania, including Northampton, Bucks and Schuylkill. It provides water and wastewater services to 17 counties, including Berks, Montgomery, Chester and Monroe.