Three public hearings this week on Artesian's proposed rate hike

PSC looking for feedback in all Del. counties By AARON NATHANS • The News Journal • August 5, 2008 The Public Service Commission will hold three public hearings this week on Artesian Water's proposed 28.8 percent rate increase. The first is tonight in Wilmington. The utility has said the increase is needed to fix aging infrastructure and address the increasing price of electricity. A water utility uses electricity to pump water out of wells and create the chemicals used in the water purification process. The increase, if granted, would add about $11.17 per month to the average household's bill, the company has said. The average customer's new bill would be $49.95 per month, the company reported this spring, when it proposed the increase. The utility serves 75,435 metered customers, and about 250,000 people, in all three... [read full story]