The state has set numerous hearings to collect public input about proposed Pennsylvania American Water Company rate hikes for customers across 37 counties, including several hundred Lancaster County customers in and around Quarryville.
While the proposed water and wastewater rate hikes vary depending on location across the state, Lancaster County customers would see the following if the state Public Utility Commission approves the hikes as requested:
The average residential water customer using 3,263 gallons a month would see a monthly increase of $13.72, from $81.55 to $95.27.
The average residential wastewater sanitary sewer customer based on winter average usage of 3,164 gallons a month would see a monthly increase of $10, from $109.50 to $119.50.
PAWC has 210 water and 250 wastewater customers in Lancaster County. Statewide, PAWC serves approximately 682,000 water and 97,000 wastewater customers. PAWC said the hikes are needed to support $1.2 billion in spending through mid-2027 to modernize and strengthen its water and wastewater systems.
Earlier this month the PUC suspended the rate hike request for up to seven months in order to collect public input and make a decision by Aug. 13, 2026.
The two in-person public hearings closest to Lancaster County are: Jan. 16, 2026, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Keystone Building, Hearing Room No. 1, 400 North St., Harrisburg, with hearings at 1 and 6 p.m.; and Jan. 20, 2026, Dunn Community Center – Upper Level, 4565 Prestwick Drive, Reading, hearings at 1 and 6 p.m.
Two telephonic hearings are Jan. 21, 2026, at 1 and 6 p.m.
To participate in the telephonic input hearings, call 866-675-4281 and have PIN Number 85057514 handy.
To participate, the dial number, enter the PIN number when instructed, speak your name when prompted, and press #. Then, the telephone system will connect you to the hearing.
Individuals wishing to testify at a telephonic public input hearing are encouraged to preregister by 4 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2026. Failure to pre-register could result in not being called to testify. To preregister, email Sumathi Jayakumar Raj at sumjayakum@pa.gov or call 717-787-4972 and provide the following information: first and last name, the hearing for which you are registering, phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing, a phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if needed and your email address if you have one.
Those who are testifying at either in-person or telephonic hearings and who have exhibits must email them to Sumjayakum@pa.gov by Jan. 9, 2026, for in-person hearings and Jan. 19, 2026, for telephonic hearings.
Rate hike proposals like these are typically suspended for investigation. For example, rate hike proposals by both PPL Electric Utilities and the City of Lancaster water system are currently suspended for investigation.
Investigations can lead to lower-than-requested increases being approved. For example, a rate increase request by Lancaster County natural gas supplier UGI Utilities totaling $110.4 million a year was scaled back by the PUC to $69.5 million and approved this year.
PAWC has more information about investments aided by the proposed rate increase online at Pennsylvaniaamwater.com/fromtreatmenttotap.
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