Butler County residents have two more chances to make their feelings known about the proposed $231 million sale of the Butler Area Sewer Authority to Pennsylvania American Water company.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will hold two public hearings on the proposed sale on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 6 p.m. both days. Both meetings will be held virtually, with members of the public allowed to join in.

The proposed acquisition has not received unanimous approval from the public. Center and Summit townships, who are both part of BASA’s coverage area, are both protesting the deal, along with the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate.

All parties involved in the protest claim consumers’ rates would rise substantially and unreasonably if the sale were to go through. In a recent news release, the Office of Consumer Advocate cited testimony that said Pennsylvania American’s $231 million purchase price was nearly triple BASA’s “book value” of $91.8 million, meaning BASA customers would foot the bill for the excess cost.

“It is unconscionable to monetize the sale of BASA’s assets for the sole use of the City of Butler and Butler Township, to use solely as they see fit, by causing a nearly 100 percent rate increase to all the current customers of BASA,” wrote Center and Summit townships in their protest filing.

Currently, BASA provides sewer service to about 15,000 customers in a 32.5-square-mile area that includes the city of Butler, Butler and Center townships, East Butler, and parts of Connoquenessing, Oakland, Summit and Penn townships.

If the sale is approved by the Public Utility Commission, the remaining proceeds will be split evenly between Butler and Butler Township.

To participate in the meetings next week, you must preregister either by email or by phone on the day of the hearing. Call 1-800-684-6560 or email consumer@paoca.org.