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Westmoreland water authority raises rates 20 percent
The authority provides water to customers in five counties.
Local municipalities served by the Westmoreland County water authority are Allegheny Township, Avonmore, Bell, East Vandergrift, Gilpin, Hyde Park, Murrysville, Oklahoma, Vandergrift, Washington Township and West Leechburg.
Rich Cholodofsky can be reached via e-mail or at 724-830-6293.
Water bills for Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County customers will increase an average of 20 percent with a rate hike approved Friday.
Board members tapped ratepayers to supply another $5.5 million in revenue to balance the authority's 2009-10 budget.
"There were no alternatives in our minds to recommend a rate increase in this budget," said authority Manager Chris Kerr.
The rate hike, effective April 1, means that the average customer will pay $56 more a year. The average annual water bill for residential customers will be $340, Kerr said.
Water rates were last raised in 2006. Rates vary according to consumption, size of meters and a customer's location.
The authority provides water to nearly 120,000 customers in Westmoreland, Allegheny, Fayette, Armstrong and Indiana counties.
Sewage rates also were increased in the new budget. For customers in Ligonier and Avonmore, water bills will increase 15 percent, while White Oak customers will see a 25 percent increase. The authority has more than 5,000 sewerage customers in those three municipalities.
Authority officials said the rate hikes were needed because of rising operational costs that include major increases in the cost to treat the water. The authority also was hit with a required $1 million payment to its pension fund as well as increased health insurance and labor costs.
In addition, water consumption is down by about 9 percent over the past decade, officials said.
"None of us on this board like to do it (raise rates). We're still one of the lowest authorities in the area," said board Chairman Donald Ruscitti.
The budget approved yesterday includes more than $54.6 million in revenues. Expenses increased by nearly $4 million to $39.6 million. The authority is required to keep a portion of its money in reserve for capital improvements.
Authority board members voted, 4-0, in favor of the new budget and rate structure. New board member Tony Bompiani did not attend yesterday's meeting.
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