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W. Va Public Service Commission Approves Water Rate Increase

By: Associated Press
Posted on: Thursday, February 25, 2016

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The Public Service Commission of West Virginia has granted West Virginia American Water Company a lower increase than it sought.

The commission said in a news release late Wednesday that it issued an order allowing a water rate increase of $18.17 million, or about 15.1 percent. The utility company had initially requested a rise of nearly twice that amount – $35.47 million.

The commission also granted a $151,000 increase in sewer rates, a 19.8 percent jump. That number is about $25,000 less than what the company had sought.

Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy tells WSAZ that many residents will struggle to afford the new rates. Hardy says Social Security hasn’t gone up this year and wages have hardly budged.

Water company spokeswoman Laura Jordan has said the rate increase would go toward updates for aging infrastructure.