PUC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Settlement Regarding Meter Testing Concerns at Pocono Waterworks

Published on 5/8/2025

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Investigation Raised Concerns About Utility Failure to Test or Maintain Records for Decades-Old Water Meters; Corrective Measures Proposed

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to seek public comment from customers of Pocono Waterworks Company, Inc. (Pocono Waterworks) and other concerned parties regarding a proposed settlement about the utility's compliance with meter testing and recordkeeping obligations.

The settlement - proposed by the PUC's independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) and Pocono Waterworks - stems from an informal investigation that followed a customer billing complaint and uncovered broader issues regarding the utility's failure to test or maintain records for aging water meters.

The Commission voted 5-0 today to publish the proposed settlement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, which will mark the start of a 25-day public comment period. Full instructions for submitting public comment will be provided when the proposed settlement is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. All comments received will be carefully reviewed by the Commission before a final decision is issued in this matter.

Background of the I&E Investigation

The matter began in April 2023, when the Commission's Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) received a high-bill complaint from a Pocono Waterworks customer. During follow-up discussions, BCS raised concerns about the utility's lack of compliance with meter testing requirements, including an inability to confirm the age of the customer's meter or provide for its timely testing.

Further inquiries revealed that Pocono Waterworks did not have access to a certified meter testing facility and lacked a clear plan for testing or replacing outdated meters. In August 2023, BCS referred the case to I&E for further investigation.

Over the next several months, I&E attempted to gather information from Pocono Waterworks through formal data requests. The utility's responses were initially delayed and incomplete but ultimately revealed that the company had not conducted regular testing on its water meters and was unable to provide basic records required by Commission regulations - including meter age, test dates, or test results.

According to I&E, Pocono Waterworks later acknowledged that the average age of its water meters was 23 years - beyond the 20-year threshold requiring testing under PUC regulations - and failed to maintain proper records of meter performance.

Terms of the Proposed Settlement

To address the issues identified during the investigation, the proposed settlement includes a series of corrective actions intended to bring Pocono Waterworks into compliance with state regulations, including:

• Testing or replacement of 15% of all water meters (approximately 45 meters) annually over a seven-year period, ensuring full compliance with meter accuracy standards.
  
  
• Ongoing data collection and reporting related to meter age, test results, meter location, and other required information.
  
  
• Submission of semi-annual compliance reports to the Commission's Bureau of Technical Utility Services.
  
  
• Development of a certified meter testing process, either through the establishment of an in-house testing facility or the use of a third-party standardizing laboratory approved by the Commission.

Pocono Waterworks has also agreed to adopt recordkeeping practices to comply with Commission regulations and to minimize customer service interruptions during meter work.

Public Participation

As required by Commission regulations, the proposed settlement will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin to ensure transparency and public input. Interested parties will have 25 days from the date of publication to submit comments on the proposed settlement.

Copies of the settlement and related documents will also be provided to the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate and the Office of Small Business Advocate for their review.

Following the close of the public comment period, the Commission will evaluate all feedback before issuing a final decision.

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 (formerly Twitter), 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.

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Docket No.: M-2025-3042412

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov