PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 23-0788-S-CN
CITY OF OAK HILL,
Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity.
AMENDED NOTICE OF FILING
On September 29, 2023, the City of Oak Hill (City) filed a duly verified application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (Certificate) in Fayette County, West Virginia.
The City proposes to undertake a project to upgrade a portion of its wastewater treatment system. The improvements associated with the project include rehabilitating approximately 480 manholes, removing and replacing select sections of gravity sanitary sewer line, rehabilitating two existing pump stations, decommissioning two pump stations by constructing a new gravity sewer line, and constructing two new pump stations to reduce cycle times and use of stormwater holding tanks at the Arbuckle Pump Station.
The second amended application is on file with and available for public inspection at the Public Service Commission, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia, or on the Commission website. This amended notice is being provided to reflect changes to the project cost and financing.
The City will fund the project totaling $8,407,000, through a $1,250,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant, a $1,500,000 Abandoned Mine Lands grant, a $208,000 City of Oak Hill contribution, a $500,000 1JDC grant, a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan related to the cost of change orders in the Sanitary Board’s previous project (City of Oak Hill, Case No. 13-1487-S-CN) in the amount of $351,536, repayable over 40 years at a rate of 0.25% with a 0.25% administrative fee, and a $4,597,464 DEP CWSRF loan payable over 40 years at 0.25% interest and 0.25% administrative fee.
The City anticipates charging the following rates, which have been enacted by the City Council following municipal ordinance procedures.
Effective Upon Substantial Completion of the project or 90 days prior to the bonds on
that project coming due, whichever occurs first
Rates: (Customers with Metered Water Supply)
$21.20 per 1,000 gallons
Flat Rate Charge (Customers with Non-Metered Water Supply)
Equivalent of 4,000 gallons of water usage, $84.50 per month
Minimum Charge
Each customer shall pay a minimum charge of $42.50 per month, which is the equivalent of 2,000 gallons.
The enacted rates also include customary service fees, late payment charges, disconnections/reconnection charges and a security deposit.
The rates represent the following project-related increases over the rates then in effect that will become effective upon substantial completion of the project or 90 days prior to the bonds on that project coming due, whichever occurs first.
($) INCREASE (%) INCREASE
Residential (based upon 3,223 gallons per month) $8.64 14.5%
Commercial (based upon 11,301 gallons per month) $35.29 17.3%
Industrial (based upon 13,783 gallons per month) $43.48 17.5%
Public Authority (based upon 18,604 gallons per month $59.39 17.7%
The City has no resale customers.
The rate increase related to the project will produce approximately $440,289 annually in additional revenue, an increase of 12 percent. These increases can only be challenged through a proper petition as set forth in W. Va. Code §24-2-4b.
The increases shown are based on averages of all customers in the indicated class. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average.
Anyone desiring to protest or intervene in the Certificate proceeding should file a written protest or request to intervene within ten days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. Failure to timely protest or intervene can affect your right to protest aspects of this Certificate case or participate in future proceedings. All protests or requests to intervene should briefly state the reason for the protest or request to intervene. Requests to intervene must comply with the rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All protests and requests to intervene should be addressed to Karen Buckley, Executive Secretary, P. 0. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.
In the absence of substantial protests received within the ten day period, the Commission may waive formal hearing and render its decision on the application based on the evidence submitted and its review thereof.
CITY OF OAK HILL