Following the sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority, customers received a letter from Pennsylvania American Water that explained some of the changes residents would see as a result of the sale.
Included in the proposed changes would be a move from the quarterly payments to a monthly fee. It also would see a change from a flat-fee to a usage-based system.
As for how that number is calculated, Gary Lobaugh of Pennsylvania American Water says they will base the wastewater number off of winter-month usage, opposed to summer.
“What we are proposing to do is base the wastewater bill during their average usage during the non-summer months,” Lobaugh said. “So if we’re using water-in, water-out, in the summer that’s not water out. That’s water to wash your car or fill your swimming pool. So what we’re going to do is just calculate the average during those non-summer months.”
A rate freeze on wastewater bills will be implemented for a year after the sale closes, which officials believe will happen before the end of the year. But, PA American Water is proposing a 60 percent increase that would begin in January 2025.
Pennsylvania American Water officials say the reason for the rate increase is part of their plan for $1 billion of infrastructure improvements throughout the state.
The proposed hike will go before the Public Utility Commission for approval.
