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Lawmakers propose state oversee PWSA; mayor not consulted

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Lawmakers propose state oversee PWSA; mayor not consulted

HARRISBURG — The speaker of the Pennsylvania House and another local state representative said Thursday they will introduce legislation to give the state Public Utility Commission oversight of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said he only learned of the planned legislation Wednesday.

“We haven’t had a chance to see the bill,” Mr. Peduto said. “We were not consulted.”

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House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Marshall, and Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick, said in a press release that oversight from the PUC is needed to address long-standing problems at the authority.

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They said newspapers have reported on millions of dollars of debt, unmetered accounts, incorrect billing, system leaks and a lack of compliance with federal water quality requirements.

The legislators also said the system has thousands of lead service lines.

“The citizens served by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority need safe water like everyone in the Commonwealth,” Mr. Turzai said in the press release. “The stability of the authority to serve its customers requires fiscal responsibility and best practices, both of which are lacking. We want to work collaboratively with the mayor and our colleagues in the General Assembly to address PWSA’s persistent problems.”

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The PUC can demand good financial practices, upgrades to infrastructure and reliable service delivery, they said.

“This legislation is about consumer protection and the health and safety of those served by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority,” Mr. Readshaw said. “This is really a common-sense approach that will move the system in a positive direction.”

Asked for his reaction to a bill from a legislator who doesn’t represent the city and who didn’t talk to the city about it before proposing legislation, Mr. Peduto said when he heard about the legislation Wednesday night, he was surprised “as to why somebody who doesn’t represent the ratepayers would be taking on this issue.”

But, he said, “They do have the authority to look at this as a potential solution” and said the proposal might lead to more transparency or other improvements in PWSA operations. He said the administration was open to looking “at how additional oversight could benefit the PWSA,” but he said he wanted to emphasize that “we are not privatizing the PWSA. We have no interest in privatizing the PWSA.”

Mr. Turzai had suggested a sale of the authority among other assets a few years ago.

Karen Langley: klangley@post-gazette.com or 717-787-2141. Staff writer Chris Potter contributed.

First Published: May 25, 2017, 5:25 p.m.
Updated: May 25, 2017, 5:58 p.m.

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