Elizabeth Township sets water shut-off procedure

It runs through March 31, covering non-payment issues for the winter.

Elizabeth Township has approved a water shut-off procedure with Pennsylvania American Water for customers who don’t pay their bills from Dec. 1 to March 31.

According to its website, PA American Water can shut off water for non-payment, but the company operates under strict rules, especially in the winter months where service can’t be cut without Public Utility Commission permission.

If water service is stopped, restoration must happen within 24 hours of payment.

“The reason being that there is potential for boiler systems, not necessarily residential units, but definitely in commercial situations,” Commissioner Kyle Walk said at a recent meeting. “If water is shut off due to nonpayment, a boiler system freezes.”

According to Walk, the cost of the repair goes back on PA American. The township’s moratorium allows the township to shut off water for those not paying their bills.

“Elizabeth Township is signing a piece of paper that allows us to avoid that,” Walk said. “In other words, if we really wanted to go after a resident for nonpayment during that period of time, we can do it.

“I’ve seen this so many times before we started to wave this moratorium where these people know that you aren’t going to shut their water off, so they don’t pay their bills for four months. This is a way to avoid it.”

Last month, Pennsylvania American Water proposed an approximate $14-per-month increase for water service and a $20-a-month increase for wastewater system customers across the state.

Commissioners held their meeting a couple days before the PUC voted to suspend and investigate proposed rate increases.

PA American stated that it submitted financial and operational data, and according to a release, the filing supports critical infrastructure improvements totaling $1.2 billion statewide through mid 2027.

“These investments directly benefit the communities we proudly serve and provide our customers with even more reliable service and improved water quality — from treatment to the Tap,” Pennsylvania American Water President Justin Ladner said in the release. “It all underscores every employee’s commitment to the health and safety of our customers and the communities we serve.”

The PUC voted 5-0 on Dec. 5 to investigate the proposed overall increase of $168.7 million (approximately 14.6%) in total annual operating revenues for water and wastewater service.

The rate increase request is now suspended for up to seven months from the proposed effective date of Jan. 13, 2026. There will be public hearings, and a final PUC decision on PAWC’s rate increase request is due by Aug. 13, 2026.