CHARLESTON, W.Va. –The West Virginia Public Service Commission on Monday gave residents an opportunity to comment on two rate increases requested by West Virginia-American Water.
The company in May asked regulators to approve a $46 million increase in water rates and a $1.4 million increase in sewer rates. If approved, the increases would be implemented in two phases: the first effective March 2026 and the second effective March 2027.
Howard Swint spoke in favor of the request, urging the commission to approve the increases so the company could invest in infrastructure improvements.
Swint said additional funding should be tied to requirements that the utility meet industry standards, including water pressure regulations.
“Let them have a reasonable amount of money, require that they follow industry standards for water pressure, international code for water pressure,” Swint said. “Give them the money they want, but mandate that they start putting money into their own systems so that they can come up to standards.”
Swint said he previously filed a complaint about excessively high-water pressure at a neighboring property and was told there were no regulations governing pounds per square inch, or PSI. He said that lack of regulation reflects insufficient oversight by the PSC.
Johanna Meisner, a Kanawha City resident, spoke in opposition to the proposed increases.
Meisner said she grew up in Charleston and returned to the area about 10 years ago after graduating from college. During that time, she said, residents have faced several rate increases, often described as the last.
“This seems like they are not being responsible financially, I don’t get to go call (work) and say I don’t have enough money to pay my bills, I’m not going to pay them I need more money from you, that’s not how this works,” Meisner said. “And no other industry or entities are allowed to take profits and then shove their expenses off onto people to have a basic right.”
Meisner said her water bill has doubled over the past decade and expressed concern it could double again over the next 10 years. She urged the commission to consider the long-term impact on residents who want to remain in the community.
“So, I’m here to ask to not approve this rate hike, and I’m also asking for the Public Service Commission to seriously think about, you know what the long-term plan is, how much more do you think people can take?” she said.
West Virginia-American Water serves about 200,700 customers across Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Lincoln, Boone, Logan, Cabell, Clay, Jackson and Roane counties.
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.