This artifact is the settlement agreement that PWD and Public Advocate reached, which is awaiting review by the Philadelphia Water Rate Board, which is the independent review board which sets PWD's rates. Along with lowering the proposed rate increase (to 10.2% for residential customers), the Public Advocate also propose a series of agreements related to the Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) and other customer assistance and support activities, in the following subject areas: recertification; Outreach/Participation; Language Access; Shut-Offs; COVID-19 Protections; Flexible Payment Agreements; and Tenant Issues. In the rate hearing process, it was determined that PWD would utilize pandemic-related Federal Stimulus Funding to offset the costs of water, wastewater and stormwater rates. However, it remains unclear how much assistance, if any, the Department may receive. To account for the potential funding, the Settlement states that of the $47 million proposed for FY2023 additional revenues, $34 million is subject to downward adjustment if PWD directly receives Federal Stimulus Funding and/or exceeds the threshold balance for its reserve funds in FY2021.
Philadelphia Water Department, "Philadelphia Water Department Proposal Settlement Term Sheet ", contributed by Morgan Sarao, The Energy Rights Project, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 13 May 2021, accessed 26 December 2024. https://energyrights.info/content/philadelphia-water-department-proposal-settlement-term-sheet
Critical Commentary
This artifact is the settlement agreement that PWD and Public Advocate reached, which is awaiting review by the Philadelphia Water Rate Board, which is the independent review board which sets PWD's rates. Along with lowering the proposed rate increase (to 10.2% for residential customers), the Public Advocate also propose a series of agreements related to the Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) and other customer assistance and support activities, in the following subject areas: recertification; Outreach/Participation; Language Access; Shut-Offs; COVID-19 Protections; Flexible Payment Agreements; and Tenant Issues. In the rate hearing process, it was determined that PWD would utilize pandemic-related Federal Stimulus Funding to offset the costs of water, wastewater and stormwater rates. However, it remains unclear how much assistance, if any, the Department may receive. To account for the potential funding, the Settlement states that of the $47 million proposed for FY2023 additional revenues, $34 million is subject to downward adjustment if PWD directly receives Federal Stimulus Funding and/or exceeds the threshold balance for its reserve funds in FY2021.