SHARON

Council members complain to water company

Sharon City officials Thursday inundated representatives of Consumers Pennsylvania Water Company with a flood of concerns.

Councilman George Gulla complained about a 29 percent water rate increase in April that followed a 23 percent hike in 1997. Both increases, according to the water company, were due to the construction of a new water treatment plant in Sharon.

Gulla said Consumers was only supposed to raise rates 30 percent increase to cover the cost of the new plant.

On top of raising rates, Gulla said the company was "arrogant" to ignore a request to appear at council’s May meeting. He continued by suggesting that the city should consider buying the water company.

Ken Baumann, vice-president and general manager of Consumers Shenango Valley Division, said there were no representatives at the meeting because of a failure to communicate. Baumann said someone should have been there.

Baumann disputed Gulla’s claim the company had predicted a 30 percent increase. Baumann said he spoke to council in January 1997 about the treatment plant and they were anticipating a 75 to 80 percent increase in the water bills.

Since that time, Baumann said Consumers has only raised rates 52 percent. The lower figure is due to the company’s merger with Philadelphia Suburban Water Company, which helped keep costs down, he said.

The Pennsylvania Utilities Commission approved the rate hikes and Baumann said they