Consumers Pa. Water Co. seeks 8.6% rate increase

SHARON, Pa. -- Customers of Consumers Pennsylvania Water Co. Shenango Valley Division could see their water bills rise by 8.6 percent under a rate increase the company is seeking.
Consumers filed for the new rate last week with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission under the name of its parent, Pennsylvania Suburban Water Co.
The typical residential customer would see the monthly cost rise by $2.93 a month to $37.02 under the proposed rate schedule.
Consumers asked that the rates go into effect Jan. 14, but the PUC typically suspends such requests for up to nine months to allow time for an investigation and analysis.
The company got an 8.3 percent increase Aug. 1, 2002.
Consumers got a 29 percent increase in April 2000 and a 23.5 percent increase in December 1997. Most of those additional revenues were for a new $34 million water treatment plant built in Sharon.
Walter Pishkur, president of Consumers Shenango Valley Division, said the latest increase is needed to continue the company's capital investment program to improve water quality, fire protection and service reliability.
Consumers has spent more than $6 million in upgrading its treatment plant and replacing waterlines and pump stations since the last increase, he said.
Replacing old water mains reduces lost water and lowers water production costs while improving reliability of service, Pishkur said.
Even with the rate request, he said, customers will still be able to have high quality water delivered directly to their taps for less than a penny a gallon and a full day's worth of water (about 150 gallons) for less than $1.25.
The company serves 57,000 residents in 18 municipalities in Mercer and Lawrence counties.