Pittsburgh Water Rates Poised To Skyrocket

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority is seeking to raise water rates nearly 60 percent over the next three years to pay for upgrades to its water system.

The authority has filed a $141.6 million rate increase request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that would hike rates 19.6 percent in 2024, 19.5 percent in 2025 and 18.3 percent in 2026. The total rate increase over those three years would be 57.4 percent.

If the Authority’s entire request is approved, the total bill for water, wastewater conveyance, and stormwater management for a typical residential customer using 3,000 gallons per month would increase:

• From $86.43 to $103.41 per month in 2024.

• From $103.41 to $123.55 in 2025.

• From $123.55 to $146.12 in 2026.

The authority contends the rate hikes are necessary to provide essential funding for mandated infrastructure improvements, to meet more stringent environmental and regulatory requirements, and address increasing operating costs related to inflation.

"As a publicly owned and operated water utility, every dollar we receive from customers is invested into the water systems we rely on each day,” authority CEO Will Pickering said in a release. “We never lose sight that this is your water and we’re dedicated to investing your rate dollars responsibly."