The state has set two additional in-person 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 additional public hearings are both in-person on Jan. 29, 2026, at the New Garden Township Municipal Building in Chester County at 299 Starr Road, Landenberg. The first hearing is at 1 p.m. and the second is at 6 p.m.

Those who wish to testify at either in-person hearing and who have exhibits must email them to Sumjayakum@pa.gov by Jan. 9, 2026.

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.


Public hearings set for Pennsylvania American Water Company water, wastewater rate hikes


Water, wastewater rate hikes that would include Quarryville area suspended for investigation


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