O’Mara urges Public Utility Commission to reject Aqua Pennsylvania’s proposed rate increase
Rep. Jennifer M. O'Mara August 30, 2021 | 2:29 PM
SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 30 – State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, submitted a public comment regarding Aqua Pennsylvania’s attempt to increase their water and sewer rates, explaining the increase would create serious financial hardships for many who are already struggling.
“Many Pennsylvanians are still recovering from COVID-19’s economic impact last year and catching up on utility bills. Furthermore, countless Delaware County residents must now pay higher property taxes because of the reassessment,” O’Mara said. “A rate hike would just push those struggling financially back even farther and create unnecessary hardships for working families and seniors living on fixed incomes.”
Aqua provides water and wastewater services to more than 490,000 Pennsylvanians, mostly in Philadelphia’s collar counties. Their proposed rate increase would raise nearly half a million people’s water bills by 17% and sewer bills by 33%.
“Aqua raised their rates just two years ago, so it’s difficult to justify another drastic increase so soon after a year of financial hardship for many,” O’Mara said. “I strongly urge PUC to reject Aqua’s request for a rate hike and put the people of Pennsylvania first.”
O’Mara encourages Aqua customers to voice their concerns by sending a letter to the PUC at P.O. Box 3265, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Additional information is available at: https://www.essential.co/news-releases/news-release-details/aqua-pennsylvania-files-rate-request-based-water-and-wastewater.