Residents Protest Aqua Rate Hikes In Cheltenham Twp.

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Two public hearings are planned for next Monday over Aqua's proposed rate increases.

Township officials said The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will hold two public hearings in Cheltenham regarding the proposed Aqua rate increase.

The meetings are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Curtis Hall.

At its June 26 Board of Commissioners meeting, residents shared concerns with the proposed increases and requested the board submit a formal objection to the increase.

Members of the Cheltenham for Affordable Water and Sewer presented commissioners with a petition signed by more than 380 residents calling on the township to act by filing a complaint with the PUC.

Cheltenham Township's letter to the PUC, along with the petition of the residents, is available to view here.

Residents on community Facebook pages are concerned about the proposed increases, which they say are 50 percent for sewer and 25 percent for water.

"We need neighbors to come speak as well as just show up and listen to the hearing," one resident said. "This is a greedy corporation making a money grab and we need to stand up for ourselves and our neighbors. The more people we turn out, the stronger our case against the rate increase."

In 2019, the township sold its sewer system to Aqua.

Residents said the corporation increased sewer rates by 65 percent in 2022.