CHJA to rescind sewage rate increase
Canonsburg-Houston Joint Sewer Authority has agreed to rescind a rate increase that was supposed to take effect July 1, and would have more than doubled sewage rates for 16,000 customers.
During a court hearing Wednesday morning before Washington County Judge Michael Lucas, attorneys representing CHJA said the board of directors planned to vote on rescinding the rate increase during its meeting today. Judge Lucas ordered that the temporary injunction on the rate increase remain in effect until CHJA rescinds it.
“The group is pleased that CHJA capitulated on the rate increase,” said Romel Nicholas, an attorney representing the three townships that challenged the rate increase, Cecil, Chartiers and North Strabane.
In asking for the temporary injunction earlier this year, those townships claimed CHJA didn’t provide sufficient basis for the rate increase or increased project costs. The joint authority wanted to raise its base charge of $5.38 per 1,000 gallons to $11.57 in 2018 and continue increasing the rate through 2021 to $12.78.
The three townships received notice Tuesday that CHJA has a different rate increase planned for January. According to the notice, the rate would increase to $6.97 per 1,000 gallons next year, $7.46 in 2020, and $7.98 in 2021.
When Lucas asked if this rate increase would also be challenged by the townships, Nicholas said the group hadn’t had a chance to review the proposed increase and that they were in court Wednesday to resolve the immediate litigation.
“We just recently received word on that late (Tuesday),” he said.
Cecil Township solicitor Gretchen Moore said CHJA would “need to provide additional information” on the new potential rate increase “with a basis for the increase.”
CHJA officials have said the rate increase is necessary to pay for expansion and upgrades to its sewage treatment plant, which is more than 50 years old. According to CHJA, the plant needs an increased flow capacity and an increased capacity for its wet-weather pump station, due to growth and development in the townships that are customers of the authority.