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City to hold another public hearing on water rate changes

Here's the press release:

PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT TO HOLD ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED RATE INCREASE

NEW WATER, STORMWATER & SEWER RATES TO ENSURE TOP-QUALITY DRINKING WATER

Philadelphia, July 23, 2012 – The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) recently announced its proposal to seek rate changes, beginning October 1, 2012, to maintain the City's top-quality water, alleviate flooding, meet regulatory requirements and improve the quality of local rivers and streams. Even with the proposed additional rates, PWD's water and sewer charges will continue to be among the lowest in the region.

An additional public hearing has been scheduled in the Lawncrest section of the city for customers to continue to comment and ask questions:

Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Philadelphia Protestant Home

6500 Tabor Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19111

The proposed changes to rates and total monthly bills over the four-year period are below. The current FY12 total monthly average bill is $57.43.

Residential Customer Average Monthly Billings

Fiscal Year

Percentage Increase of Monthly Bill Additional Monthly Water & Sewer Charge

Total Monthly Bill

2013 6.1 $3.52 $60.95

2014 6.2 $3.76 $64.71

2015 6.7 $4.36 $69.07

2016 6.9 $4.75 $73.82

Income eligibility for the senior citizen discount is being raised to $30,800. Other assistance programs, including discounts for qualifying individuals and educational/charitable institutions will continue.

Five public hearings have already been held earlier this month and were well attended. All interested parties are encouraged to attend this additional meeting. If you are unable to attend the hearing, written testimony can also be submitted to the hearing officer, Michael A. Bowman, by email at ratehearings@bowmanltd.com or by regular mail at Michael A. Bowman, Esquire, Bowman & Partners LLP, 1600 Market Street, 25th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The deadline for written testimony is Monday, August 6, 2012.

For more information about the proposed rates filing and process, please visit the Department's website at www.phillywatersheds.org.