Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
SUEZ completed a $9.5 million asset purchase agreement today of the water and wastewater systems in Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania, expanding the company’s service into Montour County. Prior approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) was granted paving the way for SUEZ to begin operations today.
“We are excited to begin providing water and wastewater service to nearly 1,200 new customers in Mahoning Township,” said Eric Gernath, chief executive officer of SUEZ North America. “Our employees have been working diligently to upgrade equipment and establish additional operating systems that will provide the best service possible to our new customers.”
Gernath added that SUEZ “provides world class service with a history of innovation in water and wastewater treatment operations and solutions that yield the highest quality of water possible. We use innovative technology for water and wastewater treatment processes that are utilized at many of our facilities across the globe. Our commitment to research and development has also pioneered operating efficiencies utilized throughout the water and wastewater industry.”
Mahoning Township Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman T.S. Scott said “We are pleased for the opportunities this transaction presents to our township, the proceeds of which will benefit all residents through funding of infrastructure and water runoff projects. This action removes government from the business of operating utilities and places it in its proper role of regulation and oversight with ratepayer protections provided by the PUC and Office of Consumer Advocate.”
The company has begun construction of an $8.5 million water transmission pipeline project across the six-mile area of US Route 11 between Bloomsburg and Mahoning Township. A letter offering to provide service was recently mailed to potential new customers situated along the route, which includes portions of Cooper and Montour Townships. Support for the project was provided by local and state public officials in advance of SUEZ requesting approval from the PUC to extend service into Montour County.
The company’s Pennsylvania Operations provides existing service to over 61,000 customers in portions of the following counties: Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Luzerne, Perry, Schuylkill, Wyoming, York. Today’s agreement with Mahoning Township marks the extension of service into Montour County.
New SUEZ customers in Mahoning Township have been switched to monthly billing from quarterly billing to conform with billing for all other customers. They will continue to pay existing rates for service during the first year the company operates the systems. After that, they will pay the same rates as other customers throughout the company’s service area.
About SUEZ in North America
SUEZ in North America operates across all 50 states and Canada with 3,260 employees dedicated to environmental sustainability and smart and sustainable resource management. The company provides drinking water, wastewater and waste collection service to 6.4 million people on a daily basis; treats over 600 million gallons of water and over 450 million gallons of wastewater each day; delivers water treatment and advanced network solutions to 16,000 industrial and municipal sites; processes 55,000 tons of waste for recycling; rehabilitates and maintains water assets for more than 4,000 municipal and industrial customers; and manages $4.1 billion in total assets. The company posted revenues of $1.064 billion in 2017 and is a subsidiary of Paris-based SUEZ.
SUEZ
With 90,000 people on the five continents, SUEZ is a world leader in smart and sustainable resource management. We provide water and waste management solutions that enable cities and industries optimize their resource management and strengthen their environmental and economic performances, in line with regulatory standards. To meet increasing demands to overcome resource quality and scarcity challenges, SUEZ is fully engaged in the resource revolution. With the full potential of digital technologies and innovative solutions, the Group recovers 17 million tons of waste a year, produces 3.9 million tons of secondary raw materials and 7 TWh of local renewable energy. It also secures water resources, delivering wastewater treatment services to 58 million people and reusing 882 million m3 of wastewater. SUEZ generated total revenues of 15.9 billion euros in 2017.