Construction workers were on the job at the Columbia Water Company today, Sunday. I felt like it was costing me money just to watch them. And of course it was, since I and other water company customers are paying for the construction through the Pennvest surcharge recently added to our water bills to pay off the loan for the project.
The PUC held a hearing on the water company's proposed rate increase about a year and a half ago and ultimately denied the request, but the company sneaked through this de facto increase anyway.
Our only recourse right now is to file complaints with the PUC: 800-692-7380. The more customers who complain, the better the chance of the PUC acting on this.
More information on filing a complaint can obtained by clicking HERE.
Construction workers at the Columbia Water Company today . . .
Is this Donald's private skating pond?
30 comments:
this Pennvest fee is ONLY for Columbias residents. Let's NOT forget that the Columbia Water Co STOLE the land via EMINENT DOMAIN to build the plant AND then they have the audacity to add an almost $9.00 Pennvest fee PER MONTH to cover his loan for the next 20 years. Unbelieveable. Something is extremely wrong here. Call the PA PUC to file your complaint...today!
They are well on their way to becoming the most despised business in town.
thanks for keeping us informed Cole! appreciate it! Let's hope that hundreds of residents call the PUC to file a complaint.
If you want to file a complaint with the p u c, you must first call the water company and complain about the surcharge and try to resolve the issue with them. The p u c will not except your complaint unless you call the water co. First p u c rule.
is that all? first call water co and complain? it would be nice for you to share the entire scenerio if you already know! thanks. appreciate it !
I said long ago Columbia should have bought the water company out! AT ALL MEANS!!!
Just wondering if the businesses' in town like restaurants, Bars, schools, and factories etc. are paying this ridiculous fee too?
can NOT understand how this is even legal. steal the land. take out a loan. charge $8.50 to each and every Columbian for 20 yrs to pay off YOUR loan. nice profit.
something is very wrong. i encourage you ALL to call water co and complain & then call the PA PUC and file a complaint. after all the PA PUC said NO to the 23% raise the water co wanted to charge JUST COLUMBIANS last year. maybe they know the deal!!!!
Agreed.....just as we should have kept the sewer plant.
If you want to check out the legal part of this issue, Google "pennvest surcharge for Columbia water company. Go to "Exceptions-oca-penna. public utility commission" dated oct. 6,2013. There you will find the document for the puc decision for the surcharge. specifically section II, page 3-7 and page 12. The loan for this was paid off in 2011 from rate increases the previous years after the loan was granted. puc denied this request because it would be a double payment for it's customers. I'm not a lawyer by any stretch, but this is wrong. Some of my friends contacted the water co. and they say it's legal and they have the paperwork to prove it. Decide yourself. But remember, you have to contact the water co. first before you file a complaint with the puc.
Oh, yea, forgot, any users who have a Columbia address are the only customers being charged. Marietta has their own company using Columbia water, different entity.Louisville customers are not being charged at this time.
The state is requiring the update for all water and wastewater the dont meet to state regulation. Question to all people that have complaints, with them being privately owned how else would they pay for the upgrade demanded by the state to better all costumers? Now do your homework because privately owned means no tax money no grants no hand out by gov like a municipality would get. The sewer needs upgraded to to meet state regs , why do u think they are selling because the borough cant afford it and cant tax any more the people that are being already taxed to much. If u think when lass takes over and has to upgrade that columbia wont pay for it think again , its coming. Also take a look at the borough and all there brand new equipment , you thinks yous dont pay for all that and there shop they built that they dont use. They have better equipment then columbia water , west hemp borough, and donegal township combined lol. Thinkabout it. So again how do small privite ccompany's survive? How do they pay for upgrade? Costumers thats how.
Louisville?
Should have been mountville. Don'know.where that came from.
That's not the issue. The issue is they want to put a surcharge only on the Columbia customers for a loan granted in1993 and payed off in 2011by increasing water rates since that time. Kinda like paying twice for something. If they want to conform to new rules, let them apply for a new loan through the PUC. See how that goes.
I am thinking that maybe instead of putting up more stop signs and things that the town does not need, Maybe it should consider using that money for the things it does need... They keep wasting money on the things not needed but forget about the things needed.. Columbia is not as poor as everyone seems to think they are...
Mountville.....fat fingers.
glad I don't live in that town anymore, moved because the taxes were out of hand and it seems it is just getting worse...
first of all...continue to complain to the water co FIRST then file a complaint with the PA PUC !!! water co will lie. what do you think they'd tell you...that oh yeah, since we were denied the ability to raise COLUMBIAS ONLY rates by 23% by the PUC last year...we found a loophole...a way around it. c'mon people get real. THIS is why we are in this position. no one wants to take an hour of their time to attend a council mtg once a month!
Youre an idiot if youre on here complaining. Water is the cheapest and most necessary of utilities. Now yes, it sucks to pay an extra 8 dollars a month; I completely agree! But I assume everyone on here pays for either internet, or a cell phone bill, or for cable. . . these are the real criminal companies! Until you have all the FACTS and not just hearsay, you have no right to complain. Every Columbia Water Company customer is paying the surcharge, even people in Mountville, west hempfield, and penn manor. Marietta customers arent because they dont use the same water! If youre So curious, maybe go visit and take a tour of the company and see where your money is being used; maybe then youll understand the benifits!
We are paying dearly for COLA PRIDE!
Smaller is not always better.
Too few paying for too much.
I think you're missing the point. This is not owned by the borough, it is private. WE should not be on the hook to pay for the loan. This is a for profit business and they should be paying back the loan out of their profit, not adding a fee to the end user instead. Let's not forget as Cole pointed out, they stole the land from the taxpayers, adding insult to injury. Get a clue!!
Actually, I didn't say that, but in some cases eminent domain does amount to legalized thievery.
i agree...eminent domain does amount to legalized thievery!
NOW here's the deal with the PRIVATELY owner Columbia Water Co....they service THOUSANDS of other customers in other towns, cities, boroughs, etc....WHY ONLY CHARGE COLUMBIA BORO RESIDENTS THE PENNVEST FEE OF $8.50 A MONTH.
now thats thievery.......EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER OF COLUMBIA WATER CO DOES, WILL, IS BENEFITTING FROM THE UPGRADE. its bs. loud and clear.
Ok, but really you think it can be resolved with them??!!!!!
After doing this, perhaps the PUC will accept my complaint.
I said along time ago to buy them the water company out at ALL COAST!! They are CROOKS and we know who they are!! They are rich and want more and more!!!!!!!
uh probably you! the benefit is having water...although not the CLEAR sparkling kind.
Bankruptcy is here soon!!
I am a private owner of a company. If i take out a 1 million dollar loan will the towns people pay it back for me?? If so i will be doing this forever. Thank you for your support and may god bless you.
Mountville residents (like me) are seeing the Pennvest Surcharge too. $8.18 on my bill. Calling the PUC.
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