REEDSVILLE — The State Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a recommended decision on increasing Reedsville sewage rates.
In February, Masontown adopted an ordinance that changed the billing method for treating Reedsville’s sewage from water usage rates to rates based on metered flow. The change resulted in an increase to Reedsville of about 221 percent.
Following a June 4 hearing, PSC staff recently recommended a two-block wholesale billing rate of $9.01 per 1,000 gallons for the first 1.6 million gallons of flow per month and 79 cents per 1,000 gallons over 1.6 million gallons per month.
The PSC staff’s recommended rates would be about a 92.47 percent increase in the wholesale rate and would generate an additional $199,024 annually to Masontown.
Both Reedsville and Masontown agreed to accept the staff proposal regarding the rate hike, but the recommended decision gives the towns the option of filing written exceptions supported by a brief within 15 days of the date the order was mailed.
If no exceptions are filed, the recommended order will become final five days after the expiration of the 15-day period, unless the PSC stays the order.
The rate hike was due to a rise in inflow and infiltration (I&I), which is storm or ground water that enters the sewer system through leaky or cracked pipes, manholes or down spouts, sump pumps or improperly connected storm drains.
Reedsville doesn’t have a sewage treatment plant. It pays Masontown a bulk rate for sewage treatment.
On March 5, Reedsville filed a petition with the PSC, saying the ordinance raising Reedsville’s rates by 221 percent was discriminatory because it did not raise sewer rates for any of Masontown’s other customers.
Reedsville Mayor Jason Titus said Monday he is waiting to hear from town attorney Mark Gaydos. But does not believe an exception will be filed.
At the meeting, Reeds-ville Council members said the town would “just break even” with the 45 percent hike. “We’ll have to raise our rates over the 45 percent we have to pay Masontown,” Titus said.
