PUC Sets January Hearings on Conneaut Lake Park Water System

PUC Sets January Hearings on Conneaut Lake Park Water System

Published on 12/5/2025

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

In-person and telephonic hearings scheduled to gather consumer feedback on system challenges and long-term solutions

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that two public input hearings have been scheduled for January to gather feedback from customers and other concerned parties regarding the Conneaut Lake Park Water Corporation (Conneaut Lake Park Water) system in Crawford County.

The hearings - presided over by PUC Administrative Law Judge Eranda Vero - will provide an opportunity for the Commission to hear directly from residents about their experiences, concerns, and priorities, as the PUC continues its detailed investigation into the financial, managerial, and technical fitness of the system and evaluates potential long-term options for ensuring safe and reliable service.

Public Input Hearings

Two PUC public input hearings have been scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026:

• Hearing #1 - In Person
  The hearing will begin at 1 PM
  Conneaut Lake VFD Station #2 (East Side)
  10833 State Hwy 18
  Conneaut Lake, PA 16316

No pre-registration is required for the in-person hearing.

• Hearing #2 - Telephonic
  The hearing will begin at 6 PM
  • Toll-free Conference Number: 866-560-8322
  • PIN Number: 36676820
  • Parties should dial the toll-free conference number at the hearing time
  • Enter the PIN number when instructed
  • Speak your name when prompted
  • press #
  • The telephone system will connect you to the hearing

Parties interested in participating in the telephonic public input hearing are encouraged to pre-register by 4 PM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Pre-Registering for the Telephonic Hearing

To pre-register for the telephonic input hearing call Legal Assistant Pamela McNeal's office phone at 215-560-4228 or by email at [email protected] and provide the following information:

• Your first and last name.
• The telephone phone number you use to call into the public input hearing.
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing, if needed.
• Your email address, if you have one.

Parties interested in participating in the telephonic public input hearing are encouraged to pre-register by 4 PM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Failure to pre-register for a telephonic public input hearing could result in you not being called to testify by the PUC Judge.

If you need assistance pre-registering to testify, you may have someone register for you, but they will need to provide all the required information for each person intending to testify. Additionally, if more than one person in your household would like to testify, one person may pre-register for other individuals in the same household by providing the PUC Judge's Legal Assistant with the necessary information for each individual.

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible. If you register too close to the hearing date, there may not have enough time to arrange for an interpreter. If you request an interpreter, the PUC will make reasonable efforts to have one present. TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Service number for those who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 711.

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the Legal Assistant, at [email protected]. The PUC Judge will forward your exhibits to all the parties. Exhibits for the in-person and telephonic public input hearings must be received by the Legal Assistant by Noon on Jan. 19, 2026.

Questions

The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) represents the interests of utility customers before the PUC. If you have questions about the public input hearings or the Company's application, please contact the OCA toll free at 1-800-684-6560 or by email at [email protected].

Case Background

In August 2024, the Commission approved a joint settlement establishing consumer service requirements, mandating system improvements, and dramatically reducing proposed rate changes for Conneaut Lake Park Water Corporation, which serves 162 full-time and seasonal residences and several businesses in and around Conneaut Lake Park in Summit and Sadsbury Townships.

The settlement also launched a detailed investigation under Section 529 of the Public Utility Code to examine the financial, managerial, and technical capabilities of the current operator and determine whether another qualified public utility should be ordered to assume ownership of the system. That investigation - now underway - focuses on long-standing operational challenges, customer service concerns, and the condition of system infrastructure.

Next Steps

Testimony and comments shared during the upcoming public input hearings will be entered into the official record of this case and considered by Judge Vero and the Commission as they evaluate the most appropriate path forward for ensuring safe, reliable water service for the Conneaut Lake community.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC's website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the "Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission" or "PA PUC" on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

# # #

Docket No.: P-2024-3051855

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  [email protected]