Associated Press Published

West Virginia American Water Seeks Additional Rate Hike


West Virginia American Water is asking state regulators to approve a 1.9 percent surcharge on customers’ bills to fund infrastructure replacement projects.

The water utility said in a news release that it filed an application Friday with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia seeking approval for the rate hike.

The 1.9 percent increase would equal an 89-cent monthly increase for a typical customer who uses 3,204 gallons.

The request comes two months after the PSC approved a 15.1 percent increase in water rates in February.

The company says it needs the extra money to recover $32.5 million of its planned $107 million of capital investments in 2016 and 2017.

The water utility says the rate increase would go toward updates for aging infrastructure.