Aqua Pennsylvania estimates the Venango Water Company and six other Rhodes Estates water systems need more than $5.5 million in capital improvements over the next three years.
The capital budget estimate was required by the Public Utility Commission as part of its order naming Aqua Pennsylvania the temporary receiver for the water systems and included in a July 1 status report on the systems.
The capital improvements include things like a new well, new water storage tanks, replacing lead service lines, new water meters, electrical and other safety repairs to the systems.
These capital costs are in addition to the ongoing operational and repair costs already incurred by Aqua Pennsylvania in running the systems which will be recovered from water system customers in the future.
Aqua said in the report it has so far employed four new people to manage the operations of the systems and created a position of Operations Team Leader to supervise the seven Rhodes water systems.
The report also itemized the repairs it already made to each of the systems to provide safe drinking water and sewage treatment services as required by the PUC order.
Montgomery County-based Aqua Pennsylvania was ordered to act as receiver of the Rhodes water systems by the PUC after an oil well wastewater spill in July 2023 contaminated one of the springs supplying water to Venango Water Company customers in Reno. [Read more here.]
The operators of the water companies-- Randall and Kevin Rhodes-- announced they would stop operating the systems as of December 31, 2024.
The PUC has a proceeding underway now led by Administrative Law Judge Mark A. Hoyer, to determine who will own and operate the Rhodes water companies permanently.
Hearings have been set for August 5 and 6 to hear evidence on the issue of future ownership from the parties to the proceeding, unless a settlement is reached between the parties before then.
Those parties include Randall Rhodes/Venango Water Company, the Blaine E. Rhodes Estate, the Office of Consumer Advocate, Aqua Pennsylvania, the PUC Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, Pennsylvania American Water Co., the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Office of Small Business Advocate.
Needed System Improvements
The capital improvements Aqua Pennsylvania said each company needs over the next three years include--
-- Venango Water Company: $2,800,250 million for a new well, storage tank replacement, new meters, water main replacements and other repairs. The company has 214 customers with an annual revenue of $142,799 in Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County.
-- Cooperstown Water Company: $958,150 for new storage tanks, emergency generator, lead line replacements, new meters and other repairs. The company has 127 customers with an annual revenue of $52,675 in Cooperstown Boro & Jackson Twp., Venango County.
-- Fryburg Water Company: $1,032,250 for clearwell and storage tank rehab, lead service line replacement, electric system repairs, new meters and other repairs. The company has 186 customers with an annual revenue of $108,036 in Pinegrove Twp., Venango County; Washington Twp., Clarion County.
-- Plumer Water Company: $87,950 for water main repairs, lead line replacements, new meters and other repairs. The company has 58 customers with an annual revenue of $38,717 in Cornplanter Twp., Venango County.
-- Sugarcreek Water Company: $283,600 for electric repairs, lead line replacement, new meters, water line repairs, emergency generator and other repairs The company has 71 customers with an annual revenue of $35,045 in Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County.
-- West Hickory Water Company: $338,400 for lead line replacement, electric repairs, water line repairs, emergency generator, new chemical feed and other repairs. The company has 177 customers with an annual revenue of $71,833 in Harmony Twp., Forest County.
-- Blaine E. Rhodes Sewer Company: $626,500 for inflow/infiltration analysis of system, electric repairs, lift station safety repairs, treatment plant audit, manhole sewer line repairs, system mapping and other repairs. The company has 214 customers with an annual revenue of $83,086 in Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County.
DEP Settlement Talks
The Department of Environmental Protection is continuing talks with Petro Erie, Inc., the company DEP ruled as responsible for the July 2023 oil well wastewater spill, over cleaning up the spill and restoring the Venango Water Company water supply.
Petro Erie Inc. appealed the DEP cleanup order to the Environmental Hearing Board in September 2023 and the Board has put the case on hold until August 1 as settlement talks continue. [EHB Docket 2023075]
Documents related to the Public Utility Commission proceeding on the Venango Water Company and six other Rhodes Estates water utilities can be found at PUC Docket No. M-2023-3042180 and I-2023-3042312.
Visit the Aqua Pennsylvania Rhodes Utilities webpage for more information on the Rhodes Utilities Receivership.
Visit DEP’s Venango Water Company/Petro Erie, Inc. webpage to learn more about the actions taken by DEP.
NewsClip:
-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Details $5.5 Million Upgrade Costs For Rhodes Estates Water Systems [PDF of Article]
Related Articles - Venango Oil Well Spill:
-- The Derrick: State Attorney General Launches Criminal Investigation Into Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill That Contaminated Venango Water Company Spring [3.8.25]
-- The Derrick: Aqua PA Spells Out Venango Water Co. Expenses Since Its PUC-Ordered Emergency Role [Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill Cost Water Customers $900,000, So Far, In Venango County] [2.22.25]
-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: Aqua PA Cites Existing Problems At Rhodes Utilities Water Companies [PDF of Article] [Water Companies Related To Venango County Conventional Well Spill Incident] [12.16.24]
-- The Derrick: PUC Judge Issues Emergency Order Appointing Aqua Pennsylvania As Temporary Operator For 6 Rhodes Estate Water Companies [Serious Community Impacts Continue From Conventional Oil Well Spill In Venango County] [10.19.24]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 5 to 11 - Shale Gas Wastewater, Fracking Chemicals Release; Water Pipeline Rupture; Crude Oil Spills; More Abandoned Wells [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 12 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On An Air Quality Permit For A Proposed 218 MW Natural Gas Power Plant For A Data Center In Bradford County; Site Originally Proposed For An LNG Gas Facility [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 70 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 12 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Comments On DEP Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Reduction Plan:
-- Shale Gas Industry VP Attacks Credibility Of A Mom And Allegheny County Resident For Comments She Submitted In Support Of DEP Plan To Reduce Methane Emissions From The Oil & Gas Industry [PaEN]
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Why Pennsylvanians Must Speak Up For Reducing Oil & Gas Methane Emissions - Kim Anderson, Evangelical Environmental Network
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Patrice Tomcik, Mother, Butler County Resident And Moms Clean Air Force Member [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Kim Anderson, Evangelical Environmental Network - Rager Mountain Leak Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Sarah Hertweck, Indiana Township Supervisor - ‘I See Up Close How Hobbled We Are By The State To Make The Best Choices For Our Community’ [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Rachel Meyer, Mother, Beaver County Resident - My Home Is Near A Natural Gas Compressor Station, 8 Shale Gas Well Pads, And The Shell Petrochemical Plant Is In My County [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Barbara Jarmoska, 77 Year Resident Lycoming County - The Degradation Is ‘Shocking And Tragic’ [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Methane Pollution Reduction Testimony: Vanessa Lynch, Mother, Allegheny County Resident - Its Been 5 Years Since A Grand Jury Report Said Pennsylvania Failed To Protect Families From Fracking, Let's Right Past Failures [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week - Natural Gas/Energy:
-- Delaware RiverKeeper, Better Path Coalition Urge Public To Oppose Federal Agency Proposal To Lift Ban On Shipping LNG Natural Gas By Rail; Comments Due Aug. 4 [PaEN]
-- Upper Makefield Twp. To Host July 15 In-Person Town Hall With DEP On Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Pipeline Contamination In Bucks County [PaEN]
-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Pennsylvania Needs A New Plan For Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; Increasing Bond Amounts Only Part Of Solution [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Details $5.5 Million Upgrade Costs For Rhodes Estates Water Systems In Venango County Area; Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill [PaEN]
-- July 28 Webinar: SLAPP Suits: Legal & Communication Strategies To Protect Your Voice In A Legally Risky Environment [PaEN]
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-- TribLive: Effort To Find Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Coming To Allegheny County
-- The Allegheny Front - Julie Grant: Longtime FracTracker Alliance Activist Ted Auch Moves On, His Concerns About The Industry Persist
-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: PA Leaders, President To Meet At Carnegie Mellon On Natural Gas, Data Centers As A.I. Threatens To Worsen Climate Change [July 15]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh Summit To Showcase Intersection Of Energy, A.I. And Policy [July 15]
-- Post-Gazette - Chloe Jad/Anya Litvak: A Critical Energy And A.I. Summit Is Coming To Pittsburgh July 15; Is The City Ready For Its Close-Up?
-- Post-Gazette: Gov. Shapiro To Attend McCormick’s Energy, A.I. Summit In Pittsburgh
-- Post-Gazette: PA US Sen. McCormick In The Spotlight As He Brings Focus On PA Energy, A.K. To Pittsburgh
-- TribLive: President’s Participation In Energy Summit At Carnegie Mellon Met With Backlash
-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor Urges FERC To Set Conditions On NRG Energy’s Plan To Buy 13GW In Gas-Fired Generation From LS Power To Avoid Market Abuses
-- Reuters: PJM, America’s Largest Power Grid, Is Struggling To Meet Demand From A.I.; Electricity Bills Are Projected To Surge 20% This Summer [PDF of Article]
-- Bloomberg: Electric Bills In US Set To Rise As Utility Requests For Rate Hikes To Accommodate A.I. Data Center Demands Double
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: As More A.I. Data Centers Connect To PA’s Electric Grid, Some Worry Prices Will Spike
-- Financial Times: US Utilities Plot Big Rise In Electricity Rates As Data Centre Demand Booms
-- Observer-Reporter: Greene County Planning Commission Approves New Mammoth Natural Gas Compressor Station In Wayne Township
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-- Observer-Reporter: Study Finds Hundreds Of Miles Of Southwest PA Roads In ‘Poor’ Condition
-- Observer-Reporter: EQT Shale Gas Driller Sues Morgan Twp., Greene County In Federal Court Over Limits On Heavy Equipment Hauling On Local Roads To Prevent Damage [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive Letters: Natural Gas Benefits Pennsylvania - By Patrick Henderson, VP Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition
-- Guest Essay: The Real Story Behind The Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee - It's Not Funding, It's Cleanup Money - By Mary Jo Simmen-Gray, Hempfield, Westmoreland County Resident [PaEN]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT And KeyState Remain Committed To ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Projects
-- TribLive: EQT Buys Olympus For $1.8 Billion, Consolidates Grip On Southwest PA Natural Gas
-- Newsweek: Oil & Natural Gas Drilling Plummets Under President Despite ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Promise Due To Market Forces
-- Reuters: APA Corp Said It Curtailed US Natural Gas, Liquids Production In 2nd Quarter On Weak Prices
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[Posted: July 10, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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