Pennsylvania American Water Company Threatens SHUT OFF

Do you have a dripping faucet? Did you know that a faucet that leaks 60 drops per minute can add up to 192 gallons per month?


What about a toilet that runs CONSTANTLY....what about a hot water heater that had been leaking onto the basement floor for two years? That was me... last year.

Each month it crept up a bit: 60... then 80 dollars... then the whopper bill in November.

That was the night I decided the running commode had to be fixed. I managed to 'break the whole flush-mechanism, turned off the water to the toilet-- and since that time, I've resorted to 'bucket flushes'. (It's proven to be marvelously econonmical.)

Then in December, my long term leak from the hotwater heater in the basement became a tank break on Christmas Eve, so I replaced it. ... dry basement. No more leakage.

Now......with all that as background...how about a water bill back in November and before these changes, that totaled $106.00 for ONE MONTH for one person who works outside the HOME five days a week!!!

After 'bucket flushes' and a new hotwater tank, my bills began to drop....dramatically, and most are now under 20.00 per month! SO WHAT HAPPENED??? Why am I complaining? DOESN'T THIS STORY HAVE A HAPPY ENDING??? AM I NOT LEAVING A MORE REASONABLE AND SMALLER CARBON FOOTPRINT ON THIS PLANET??

(Of course not.)

Starting in March 2009, I received a notice from my water utility company: Pennsylvania American Water Company. "We are required to change water meters every twenty (20) years. Please call our customer service center within the next five days..." blah, blah. That made no sense to me--- unless....AH HAH!! my dramatic cutback in usage led them to believe someone had tampered with my meter, or that it wasn't functioning properly. (In common terms, "THEY WEREN'T GETTING EXHORBITANT PAYOLA ANYMORE")-- and I believe my account was flagged. I've never heard of a 20 year rule in regard to water meter replacement, and no, I never called them.

The first week of May, a second notice. Today, a FINAL NOTICE demanding I call their office within 5 days or "if you do not respond to this request within 5 days we will be forced to take action to discontinue your service." I ask you- does this sound Kosher to you?

I just this evening filed a complaint through their customer service department online. I also filed a complaint with the PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION reiterating all I've said above. My bills have always been paid on time. There were no 'alarms raised' when my usage went UP...no, no flags raised there. Only when usage dropped like a stone-- and with it, their revenue from this account.

PLEASE, PLEASE....IF ANYONE, AND IN PARTICULAR, ANYONE FROM PENNSYLVANIA WITH PENNSYLVANIA AMERICAN WATER COMPANY as their provider, and you've received these notices after a huge drop in consumption as well --please email me at the email given here under my profile for Blogger. I'd like to see how widespread this problem might be.....

To my mind, it's downright criminal to threaten to turn off water on a fully paid account simply because the customer does not want (or NEED) to take time off from work to allow a perfectly functional meter to be swapped out.

OUTRAGEOUS. I'd like to get a class action thing going if possible, so comment here or email. I've grown tired of their harassment- and now.. a threat to cut off service.

As they say, "There oughta be a law." I'll let you know how this thing plays out. Mad as hell, I am.





NOTE: Just had another thought.....and it's about the cost of a new water meter. Now who pays for that I wonder???


New water meters run about $2,000.00 and it's a cost passed on to the consumer- (even though in every other business when it becomes necessary to replace equipment, the company assumes that financial burden because it's part of doing business) -but with the water company, that cost is prorated each month as part of a customer's bill. Here in Pennsylvania, I believe that's about 3.4% each billing cycle. Pretty sweet, right???

Tell me what's wrong with this picture? Anything suspicious going on to your mind? I think this raises all kinds of red flags.

Take this as an analogy: if you'd take your car for an inspection and it's functioning fine, but the dealer insists you need new brakes simply because they have a rule somewhere that everyone HAS TO get new brakes at your particular milage, would that not piss you off? This is the same thing. Unnecessary replacement. And the consumer bears the cost.