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The
Gas & Water Division assists the Commission in regulating
33 water utilities and six sewer utilities in New Hampshire.
The 33 water utilities own approximately 100 separate
systems, ranging in size from 20 customers to about 22,000.
Pennichuck Water Works is the largest, serving the greater
Nashua area as well as a number of smaller systems in
the southern part of the state. Until recently the Commission
also regulated Manchester Water Works with regard to the
customers it served outside the City of Manchester. This
was because Manchester chose to charge its outside customers
a higher rate than its Manchester customers. A change
in state law in 2002, which now permits a rate premium
of up to 15% over municipal rates without PUC regulation,
led Manchester recently to seek and receive exemption
from regulation from the Commission.
The 33 water utilities regulated by the
PUC only serve around 15% of all of New Hampshire’s
residents. The large majority of residents are served
by either a municipal utility or by private wells. It
is estimated that 38% of New Hampshire residents receive
their water from private, on-site wells.
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