Legal 3 col x 17”
0515 0522
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CHANGE IN RATE
WEST VIRGINIA-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY
Notice is hereby given that WEST VIRGINIA-AMERICAN WATER COMPANY, a public utility, has filed with the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA a tariff containing a requested increase in rates, tolls, and charges for furnishing water service to approximately 172,000 customers in Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mercer, Morgan, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Wayne, and Webster Counties, and a tariff containing a requested increase in rates, tolls, and charges for furnishing wastewater service to approximately 1,800 customers in Boone, Fayette, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties.
The water tariff filing will also directly or indirectly affect those customers of the following public service districts, regional development authorities, municipalities, or other governmental subdivisions who, under agreements approved by the Public Service Commission, are charged water rates that are in whole or in part based on the rates of the Company:
Boone County Public Service District
Cumberland Public Service District
Flatwoods Canoe-Run Public Service District
Jumping Branch-Nimitz Public Service District
Kanawha County Regional Development Authority
Lashmeet Public Service District
Lewis County Economic Development Authority
New Haven Public Service District
Oakvale Road Public Service District
Putnam County Building Commission
Salt Rock Public Service District
Webster County Economic Development Authority
Some of the customers receiving service from these entities under Operation and Maintenance Agreements with the Company also pay a surcharge in addition to the metered water rates. These surcharge amounts were approved by the Public Service Commission in prior cases, and those surcharges will not increase or otherwise be affected by this filing.
The proposed increased rates and charges will become effective March 1, 2026, unless otherwise ordered by the Public Service Commission. The proposed increases include an allocation of the wastewater revenue requirement to the water revenue requirement to support the same percentage increase in rates for both water and wastewater customers. On a total basis, the Company proposes $46,376,033 in additional annual net water revenues over present rate revenues, or an overall increase in revenues of approximately 22.0 percent, and $1,453,680 annually in additional net wastewater revenues over present rate revenues, for an overall increase in revenues of approximately 25.8 percent. The $46,376,033 increase in annual net water revenues consists of an increase in base rates of $58,935,579 in annual revenue and a decrease in the Company’s Distribution System Improvement Charge (“DSIC”) of $12,559,546 in annual revenue. The $1,453,680 increase in annual net wastewater revenues consists of an increase in base rates of $1,595,142 in annual revenue and a decrease in the Company’s Wastewater System Improvement Charge (“WSIC”) of $141,462 in annual revenue.
The Company proposes implementing the increase in two steps: the first step under Addendum Period 1 with rates effective March 1, 2026, and the second step under Addendum Period 2 with rates effective March l, 2027. The step 1 increase for water service in Addendum Period 1 is $31,816,550, or approximately 15.1 percent over present rate revenues, net of DSIC and inclusive of the wastewater to water allocation. The step 2 increase for water service in Addendum Period 2 is $14,559,483, or approximately 5.7 percent over Addendum Period 2 going level revenues, net of DSIC and inclusive of the wastewater to water allocation. The step 1 increase for wastewater service in Addendum Period 1 is $767,720, or approximately 13.6 percent over present rate revenues, net of WSIC and inclusive of the wastewater to water allocation. The step 2 increase for wastewater service in Addendum Period 2 is $685,960, or approximately 10.8 percent over Addendum Period 2 going level revenues, net of WSIC and inclusive of the wastewater to water allocation.
The Company is further proposing a Universal Affordability Discount Tariff for water and wastewater service that includes multiple tiers of discounts based on different levels of household income stated as multiples of Federal Poverty Level (“FPL”). The driving principle behind the Company’s proposed Universal Affordability Discount Tariff is to provide all participating customers discounts such that the expected bill for basic water or wastewater service will be no more than 3% of their annual household income.
The proposed tariff discounts are as follows:
(%)
Universal Affordability Discount Tariff Discount
0%-50% Federal Poverty Level 60%
50%-100% Federal Poverty Level 40%
100%-150% Federal Poverty Level 30%
150%-200% Federal Poverty Level 15%
The following schedules show the change from rates currently in effect based on representative levels of consumption and the monthly dollar and percentage changes including the wastewater to water allocation and the impact of its proposed new Universal Affordability Discount Tariffs. The modification of any of these components will impact these schedules. The average monthly bill for the various classes of customers will be changed as follows:
WATER BASE RATES
Addendum 1 Step I Addendum 2 Step 2
Effective 3/1/2026 Effective 3/1/2027
INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE
AVERAGE CUSTOMER CLASS ($) % ($) %
Residential (5/8” meter; minimum bill 1,500 gal) $ 6.45 14.42% $ 3.04 5.61%
Residential (5/8” meter; 3,000 gal) 10.74 14.42% 5.06 5.60%
Commercial (1” meter; 17,000 gal) 60.14 14.43% 28.29 5.60%
Industrial (4” meter; 690,000 gal) 1,479.07 14.43% 695.83 5.60%
Other Public Authority (1” meter; 38,000 gal) 112.39 14.43% 52.87 5.60%
Sale for Resale (4” meter; 5,840,000 gal) 8,940.35 14.43% 4,206.11 5.60%
The water rate increases shown above will incorporate the rate impact of the cumulative investment under the Company’s DSIC program that was (or is projected to be) placed into service between March 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. As a result, the Company proposes to reduce the DSIC component of its rates relating to that investment when the new base rates go into effect.
The Company’s contract sale for resale customers include Bluefield Valley Water Works Company, Lavalette PSD, Flatwoods Canoe Run PSD, Aqua Ohio Water, Jane Lew PSD, Lincoln PSD, and the City of Hurricane.
WASTEWATER BASE RATES
Addendum 1 Step I Addendum 2 Step 2
Effective 3/1/2026 Effective 3/1/2027
INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE
AVERAGE CUSTOMER PER CLASS ($) % ($) %
Residential (5/8” meter; minimum bill 2,500 gal) $ 6.65 10.12% $ 4.29 5.60%
Residential (5/8” meter; 3,000 gal) 7.78 10.12% 5.02 5.60%
Commercial (1” meter; 17,000 gal) 39.52 10.12% 25.50 5.60%
Other Public Authority (1” meter; 38,000 gal) 87.12 10.12% 56.23 5.60%
The wastewater increases shown above will incorporate the rate impact of the cumulative investment under the Company’s WSIC program that was (or is projected to be) placed into service between March 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. As a result, the Company proposes to reduce the WSIC component of its rates relating to that investment when the new base rates go into effect.
The rate increases shown above are based on averages for customers in the indicated class. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average. Furthermore, the requested rates and charges are only a proposal and are subject to change (increase or decrease) by the Public Service Commission in its review of this filing. Any increase in rates and charges will not become effective until authorized and approved by the Public Service Commission. If a hearing is conducted, notice will be given of the time and place of hearing. A complete copy of the Company’s tariff proposals and a representative of the Company to provide information concerning this tariff are available to all customers, prospective customers or their agents at the following offices:
West Virginia-American Water West Virginia-American Water
Central Division Northern Division
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue 1243 U.S. Highway 19 South
Charleston, WV 25302 Weston, West Virginia 26452
West Virginia-American Water West Virginia-American Water
Western Division Eastern Division
4002 Ohio River Road 150 East Burr Boulevard
Huntington, WV 25702 Kearneysville, WV 25430
West Virginia-American Water
Southern Division
12 Mile Road @ Route 460
Princeton, West Virginia 24740
Copies of the tariffs have also been delivered to representatives of the aforementioned public service districts and entities for public inspection at their respective offices.
Copies of the tariffs are also available for public inspection at the Offices of the Secretary of the Public Service Commission at 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia 25301.
Anyone desiring to intervene and act as a party in either of these cases should file on or before August 3, 2025 a Petition to Intervene complying with the Commission rules on intervention in the Rules of Practice and Procedure, 150 C.S.R. l , unless otherwise modified by Commission order. Anyone desiring to protest should file a written protest as soon as possible, although protests will be accepted by the Commission through the pendency of this proceeding. All written protests should briefly state the reason for the protest. All protests and Petitions to Intervene should clearly state the case name and number and be addressed to Karen Buckley, Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.