PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 25-0443-PWD-30B
CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT
Rule 30B application to pass through the increased
resale/bulk water rate from the Town of Romney to the
District’s water customers.
NOTICE OF FILING
NOTICE is hereby given that in Case No. 24-0878-W-PWD-P, the Commission approved an initial wholesale rate increase for Romney, effective for service rendered on and after May 26, 2025. The wholesale rate increased 8.06%, from $4.96 to $5.36 per thousand gallons, an increase $0.40 in purchased water costs of the Central Hampshire Public Service District. The Commission also approved a Romney wholesale rate of $5.96 effective for service rendered upon substantial completion of the upcoming Romney water improvement project or commencement of payment of debt service, whichever occurs first, an additional increase of $0.60 per thousand gallons, or 20.2% over the initially increased water resale rate.
The Central Hampshire Public Service District filed for increased rates to recover the increased cost of purchased water. Commission Staff reviewed the District’s application and recommended that recovering the initial Romney increase will require an increase in the District’s rates of $0.56 per thousand gallons. This rate increase is higher than the $0.40 per thousand gallon wholesale cost increase because of the substantial water losses on the District’s system. By Order issued July 21, 2025, the Commission approved the Staff Recommended Rates on an interim basis, for all bills issued on and after July 21, 2025.
The average monthly bill for District customers will be changed as follows over current rates
$ Increase % Increase
Residential $1.51 2.86%
Commercial $6.94 3.09%
The second Romney wholesale rate increase will occur in the future when Romney completes a capital improvement project that it is currently planning. Recovery of that $0.60 per thousand gallon wholesale rate increase will require a District rate increase of $0.84 per thousand gallons. That $0.84 rate increase will be added to future District rates when the Romney project goes into service and will also be added to future District rates previously approved for the District’s capital improvement projects. The exact date for the additional $0.84 to be added to the District rates is· not known at this time. That rate increment, when implemented will increase monthly bills of District customers as follows:
$ Increase
Residential $ 2.27
Commercial $10.42
The Commission also ordered that the District evaluate its lost water and determine the causes and possible remedial actions that could reduce the excessive lost water volumes being experienced by the District.
The 30B procedure is designed to provide for a change in rates and charges in order to produce additional revenue sufficient, but no more than sufficient, to offset the increased cost for water purchased by the utility. Consequently, protest should be limited to the reasonableness of the cost offset and the method by which it is calculated. Anyone desiring to protest or intervene should file a written protest or notice of intervention within twenty (20) days following the date of this publication unless such date is modified by Commission order. Failure to timely intervene can affect your rights to protest any rate increases and to participate in future proceedings. Requests to intervene must comply with the Commission’s rules on intervention. All protests and interventions should be addressed to the Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, WV 25323.
CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT
8-27-1c
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