PUC To Hold Hearings On Proposed Acquisition Of Indian Creek Valley Water Authority By PA American Water In Fayette, Westmoreland Counties Starting June 12

On June 5, the Public Utility Commission announced mid-June hearings to gather public input on a $32.8 million proposal by Pennsylvania American Water Company to acquire the water treatment and distribution system operated by the Indian Creek Valley Water Authority (Indian Creek) in Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

The Indian Creek system serves approximately 2,700 customers in the Borough of Ohiopyle and portions of Saltlick, Springfield, Bullskin, Connellsville, and Stewart townships, in Fayette County, along with the Borough of Donegal and portions of Donegal and Mount Pleasant townships, in Westmoreland County.

Public Input Hearings

-- Friday, June 12, 2026 – Telephonic Hearing

The telephonic hearing begins at 1 p.m.

Toll-free Bridge Number: 888-702-8142

Passcode Number: 14564277

-- Monday, June 15, 2026 – In Person Public Input Hearings

Hearing #1 begins at 1 p.m.

Hearing #2 begins at 6 p.m.

Saltlick Township Municipal Building

147 Municipal Building Road

Melcroft, PA 15462

Administrative Law Judges Katrina L. Dunderdale and Ann Quimby will preside over the hearings.

Pre-Registering for the Hearings

Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. If you choose to pre-register, you may pre-register by Noon on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.

To pre-register by email, contact the Presiding Officers Legal Assistant, Sarah Cavanaugh, at sarcavanau@pa.gov  and provide the following:

-- Your first and last name.

-- The time of the hearing at which you wish to testify.

-- The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.

-- If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

To pre-register by phone, call the Administrative Law Judge’s office at 717-783-5179 providing the following:

-- Your first and last name.

-- The time of the hearing at which you wish to testify.

-- The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.

-- A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing if we need to contact you.

-- Your email address, if you have one if you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

Assistance with Registration

If you need assistance pre-registering to testify at a hearing, you may have someone register for you, but they will need to provide all the information listed above. 

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, but the full information for everyone must be provided.

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 be enough time to arrange for an interpreter. 

If you request an interpreter, every reasonable effort will be made to have one present.

TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 711.

Hearing Exhibits

If you intend to present any documents or exhibits at a public input hearing, you must email one copy to the Presiding Officers via the Legal Assistant, Sarah Cavanaugh, at sarcavanau@pa.gov,  one copy each to every active party listed on the hearing notice. 

All copies must be received by Noon the business day immediately before the hearing. Proposed exhibits should be properly pre-marked for identification purposes.

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 requested rate increase, please contact the OCA toll free on 800-684-6560 or by email at: consumer@paoca.org. 

Documents related to this case are available at PUC Docket No.:  A-2025-3055741.

Click Here for the PUC announcement.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PUC Finalizes Long-Term Plan To Ensure Stable Water Service For Rock Spring Water Company Thru Its Acquisition By PA American Water In Centre County  [PaEN]

-- PUC To Hold Hearings On Proposed Acquisition Of Indian Creek Valley Water Authority By PA American Water In Fayette, Westmoreland Counties Starting June 12 

-- PUC Invites Comments On New Public Utility Billing Practices Regulations

-- DCED Awards $7.4 Million In Community Development Block Grants To Support Water, Sewage System Improvements In Adams, Armstrong, Cambria, Greene, Jefferson, Sullivan, Tioga Counties

-- DEP Drought Conditions: Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton Counties In Drought Warning, 15 Counties In Drought Watch; Reported Water Use Restrictions  [PaEN]

-- Wildlands Conservancy Permanently Protects 1,147 Acres Of Lehighton Water Authority Lands In Carbon County  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- York Daily Record: Struggling To Pay Your Water Bill?  York Water Company Offers New Help

-- PennLive: Central PA’s Spring Drought Could Lead To Water Conservation Orders, But End May Be In Sight

-- Warren County Editorial: Tidioute Residents Have Not Been Able To Use Their Water For 3 Months And Counting; It’s A Reminder Water Infrastructure Needs To Be A Priority

[Posted: June 4, 2026]  PA Environment Digest