Commission holds public hearing on utility acquisition
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission held one of its two public hearings on the proposed sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to Pennsylvania American Water on Tuesday, July 18.
Tuesday’s hearing, which occurred over the phone, heard from residents from all over the state on why the sale of the wastewater system should not go through.
Willie Adams of Butler was one of the several opponents to the sales.
“I am opposed to the sale of BASA,” Adams said. “It will lead to unreasonably high prices for rate payers. The PAWC is a for-profit corporation, not only do they have to cover all cost, they have to make a profit to cover executive bonuses, stock options and shareholder dividends.”
Thomas Wyatt, one of the attorneys representing Butler Area Sewer Authority and Butler Township, spoke in favor of the acquisition.
“We’ve been very much looking forward to this public input hearing to again have a chance to hear from the public,” Wyatt said. “We look at tonight as a continuation of a very deliberate and very transparent process that we’ve undertaken well over a year.”
Christine Ford of Redding, a current customer of Pennsylvania American Water, urged Butler residents to steer clear of the utility company.
“Butler County residents can look forward to a future of astronomical water and sewer bills with no end in sight,” Ford said. “I’m just trying to speak out to the Butler Township residents and urge them to speak up to your township leaders to please not join PAW.”
There was a reoccurring theme from opponents of the acquisition — the rising cost and the infrequency of billing cycles.
“Our (water) bill has gone up 170% since the sewer was purchased,” said Kathleen Schwartz of Redding. “There was also a problem in the fact that there’s no set billing period. Some months it’s a 28-day cycle, and some months it’s a 35-day cycle which makes it almost impossible to budget.”
The Butler wastewater system was sold for $231.5 million on Oct. 11, 2022. A public evidentiary hearing is scheduled for July 28 and July 31.
