Action item: Remote PUC hearings
The PUC has hearings this week on 2 applications that could potentially impact Towamencin / TMA sewer bills. One is directly related to PA American's hostile takeover of our system.
If you can, please spare some time an evening this week to speak out. Pre-registration is required.
Sign up for BASA/PAWC Remote Public Hearing
What is the hearing about? Pennsylvania American Water applied to acquire the wastewater system assets of the Butler Area Sewer Authority (BASA). BASA services about 15,000 customers.
Why does Towamencin NOPE care?
If BASA is acquired by PAWC, their acquisition cost would be included in any future Towamencin rates from PAWC. The average $1,272 annual bill per household could be upwards of 10% higher!
NOPE believes that no more municipal water or wastewater systems should be acquired under the exploitative Act 12!How can I help? Give a short testimony to the PUC (sample testimony provided) about why this is not in the best interest of the public.
When will this be happening? The public input hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 2023, and Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 6 pm. You MUST pre-register by 12 noon on the day of the hearing in order for your testimony to be put on the record.
How to register to testify: PUC Holds Telephonic Public Input Hearings on Request by Pennsylvania-American Water to Acquire Butler Area Sewer Authority
Script for your testimony: I am a Towamencin resident and we have a pending sale to PA American Water. The BASA sale is for $231.5M, and American Water cites $75 million in needed upgrades. The cost of the sale and these upgrades will be spread amongst all of American Water’s customers and thus will do financial harm to current and future American Water customers. Please deny this application as it is not in the public interest.
Sign up for Towamencin’s Remote Public Hearing
What is the hearing about? Towamencin is applying for a certificate of public convenience from the PUC. This certificate is only being pursued because Towamencin wants to sell our system to PA American Water.
Why does Towamencin NOPE care? Because TMA does not need this certificate, the PUC should not be providing this certificate before the issue of our HRC outlawing the sewer sale is settled in court. It would add additional PUC fees on top of our TMA sewer rates and an additional, unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
How can I help? Give a short testimony to the PUC (sample testimony provided) about why this is not in the best interest of the public.
When will this be happening? Hearing takes place Thursday, July 20 at 6:00 p.m. You MUST pre-register by Wednesday, July at 12 noon in order for your testimony to be put on the record.
How to register to testify: PUC Reminds Consumers About July 20 Telephonic Public Input Hearing on Towamencin Township Request to Provide Wastewater Service in Portions of Montgomery County
Script for your testimony: Towamencin does not need this certificate in order to continue operations because they are able to operate under the Municipal Authorities Act. Towamencin Township has made it clear that they plan to abandon this certificate if PA American Water’s acquisition of Towamencin’s wastewater system is approved by the PUC under section 1329. As noted in the OCA’s intervention to PA American’s application to acquire the Towamencin system, it is unclear if Towamencin is legally able to sell the sewer system at all. If the section 1329 acquisition fails, Towamencin will be left in a situation where their rates are set under both the Public Utility Code and the Municipal Authorities Act. This will cause confusion and undue cost in PUC fees to Towamencin Municipal Authority customers. This application is not in the public interest and should be denied.