Allentown water rate hike can move forward after Lehigh County judge denies injunction

A Lehigh County judge cleared the way for an Allentown, Pennsylvania water rate increase, denying an injunction the city had sought to block it, as reported by The Morning Call. The Lehigh County Authority, which leases the city's water and sewer system under a 50-year deal, planned to switch from quarterly to monthly billing and raise its fixed charge by about $13 a month, or $156 a year.

The authority argued it needed the revenue for budget shortfalls and future capital projects, while Allentown fought the change and said it would head to mediation and arbitration under the lease. Judge Doug Reichley wrote that residents could otherwise face "a lack of reliable water and sewer service," a worse outcome than higher bills.

Disputes like this can drag on for years, and when they settle the higher rate usually stands. For an apartment owner billed through one master meter, that increase lands on the property and every unit inside it.

Submetering ties each resident's bill to their own usage, so owners are not left covering the full jump and residents have a reason to watch what they use.

Learn about submetering and see how much you can save.

Source: The Morning Call