`super Conference' Needs Adjustments To Serve All Teams 
When The Wyoming Valley West Swimming Team Destroys Scranton Prep, There Is No 
Blood In The Water.

4th Suit Filed Against City's `impact' Team

By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, January 18, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Wilbar Realty Co. Inc. and its president have been fined $7,000 by the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and ordered to reimburse customers who
were overcharged. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The PUC said Wilbar broke state regulations by collecting on a rate hike in
June 1995, 14 months before it was approved by the commission. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The hike raised water rates from $16.39 a month to $28.20 a month, said
Kathryn Sophy, prosecuting attorney for the PUC. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She said customers were overcharged between June 1995 and August 1996, when
Wilbar was given permission to raise its rates. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilbar had approached the PUC to raise its rates to pay back a $1.4 million
PennVest state loan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "(Wilbar President Carl Kresge) was authorized to put a PennVest surcharge
on the bills but told to wait until he did X, Y and Z," Sophy said. "Instead
he just put it on." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to the complaint against Wilbar, the company had to submit its
PennVest loan schedule and other information to the PUC before Kresge's
request could be approved. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kresge said Wilbar is reimbursing customers through credits on their water
bill and has done so since August 1996. He would not discuss the fine, saying
he was not aware of it until he saw it reported in the newspaper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think it stinks that I have to find out from a friend who read it in the
paper," Kresge said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sophy said the PUC fines also stem from customer complaints about how they
were treated by Kresge and for misuse of PennVest funds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The order states that Wilbar must c

Puc Fines Local Firm $7,000 
**see For The Record 1/20/98 
State Panel Says Wilbar 
Realty Raised Water Rates 
For Its 265 Customers More 
Than A Year Before The Hike 
Was Approved

Puc Fines Local Firm $7,000 **see For The Record 1/20/98 State Panel Says Wilbar Realty Raised Water Rates For Its 265 Customers More Than A Year Before The Hike Was Approved