> Veolia’s company contributions and financial assistance programs aid affordability while advancing improvements that will enhance water service to Pennsylvania customers 

> $167 million in water system improvements through 2025 will provide enhanced  water pressure, new water mains and PFAS treatment equipment for Veolia customers

▁▁▁ 

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a Joint Settlement regarding Veolia’s Investment Plan filed earlier this year that enables Veolia to upgrade water treatment facilities and improve reliability through infrastructure improvements while continuing to maintain affordable rates for customers.

Larry Finnicum, Regional President of Veolia’s Mid-Atlantic operations, said, “We are pleased with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s approval of our investment plan. Our customers depend on us to provide exceptional water and wastewater services. That is why we continue to make long-term, essential investments that improve water quality and reliability and enhance the customer experience. This plan includes a new customer assistance program that will provide financial assistance to customers who may need help paying their water bills.”

Veolia, the global leader in water and wastewater services, serves over 200,000 water customers and 1,600 wastewater customers across 40 municipalities in Pennsylvania. Veolia and its predecessor companies have been trusted and reliable operators of Pennsylvania water systems as far back as the late 1800s, and the company continues to build on its strong record of performance by keeping its systems in good repair and adapting to changing needs. By the end of 2025, the company is expected to have invested over $167 million in its local water systems in Pennsylvania since the company filed its last plan in 2018. 

Customer Assistance  & Customer Experience are Main Focus of Rate Plan 

The approved plan provides for a new Customer Assistance Program aimed at offering additional financial assistance to low-income customers. The program will include:

• Expanding and increasing Veolia’s current low-income program to include a Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and arrearage management program to assist customers with incomes at or below 200% of federal poverty income guidelines.
• Veolia will maintain a $35,000-per-year shareholder contribution to the existing Veolia Cares hardship program. Customers can receive a hardship grant up to $300 for water and $300 for wastewater bills.
• Establishment of a plumbing and leak repair program for eligible customers, including installation of water conservation kits.

Veolia is committed to providing fair and equitable rates for all of its customers. The $167 million of improvements represent an average investment of approximately $836 per customer. Under this plan, the average residential water bill for the majority of Veolia’s Pennsylvania customers will be adjusted by approximately $8 per month.

Veolia’s Investment  Plan in Action

Veolia’s $167 million in investments include projects designed to enhance service reliability, water quality and sustainability across all nine counties in the company’s service territory:

• Water Main Replacements: Service reliability is always a priority for Veolia. The company continues to replace water mains within the 900+ miles of the Pennsylvania distribution network. Mains have been replaced in numerous communities including Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Middletown, Marysville, Dauphin, Duncannon, Newberry, Mechanicsburg, Letterkenny, Dallas, Bloomsburg, Danville, Mahoning and Shavertown, totaling over $64 million since 2018.
• Water Quality Improvements: Veolia’s proactive approach to delivering exceptional water quality to its customers is on display across the Pennsylvania territory. The company did not wait for new standards to become official before taking action on PFAS, but rather as concerns emerged, the company implemented treatment at two sites and is in the process of installing treatment systems at several others. The improvements will total over $2.4 million through 2025.
• Water Accessibility Improvements: Veolia has also worked with local governments to assist communities in need. When Upper Allen Township in Cumberland County sought to improve water pressure for the local school district,Veolia invested over $4 million to bolster the water system including a new water tower visible throughout the community, which provides more consistent fire protection for the school district and enhanced water service for local businesses and several neighborhoods. Veolia also stepped in to assist well owners in South Centre Township in Columbia County, helping residents gain access to safe, reliable drinking water through the installation of new water mains, a project totaling over $6 million. Additionally, in an effort to increase reliability and sustainability at water treatment plants, over $50 million in plant improvements will take place through 2025.

These achievements exemplify the goals of Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy, which strives to lead the ecological transformation of the planet by accelerating water quality improvement, decarbonization and technological innovation in order to help its customers, the environment and the communities it serves. In addition, Veolia continues to follow through on increasing community awareness on capital investments through targeted communications and community outreach. 

▁▁▁

ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA

A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.

www.veolianorthamerica.com 

▁▁▁

CONTACT

Veolia Pennsylvania Operations

Leigh Ann M. Urban, Communications and Community Relations Manager

717-443-5900                  

[email protected]