| West Virginia American Water wants to raise its rates by $24 million dollars, a 25% increase.
West Virginia's water is owned by an international corporation, serving about 600,000 people in 19 counties.
The average home water bill would go up $8.50 to about $42 a month.
West Virginia American Water says the rate increase is needed to help the company recover increased operating costs and return on more than $411 million in capital investments.
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper say they will fight the proposed rate hike, calling it an "outrageous increase."
Billy Jack Gregg with the PSC said,
"Obviously, this is not good news and shocking to all water users here in West Virginia...One of the problems West Virginia American Water has is that their existing rates are so high, so people are cutting back on usage, which causes a need for more revenue...It's a cycle of impossibility."
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