Public Service Commission Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. Water And Sewer Bills On The Increase

State regulators have approved an 8 percent increase in water and sewer rates for the average customers of the West Virginia-American Water Company (WVAW).

That means more than $10 a month.

In its 58-page ruling, the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia said the average water bill should increase by $5.69 a month, and sewer bills should increase by $5.59 a month.

The company initially filed for a 22.5 percent increase on May 1, 2023. That request was a total of more than $41 million. After the commission allocated a portion of sewer costs to the water operations, the water increase rose to $43 million, or 24 percent.

The net effect of the commission’s decision released Saturday is to approve a $15 million revenue increase, or an 8 percent increase in rates, instead of 24 percent.

The impact on a residential customer using 3,400 gallons of water per month will take the monthly water bill from $71.10 to $76.79.

For sewer operations, residential customers using 3,400 gallons of water per month will take the average monthly sewer bill from $69.92 to $75.51.

The Kanawha County Commission had advocated for no rate increase, but released a statement that said it views the reduced increase as a significant success, with WVAW receiving only a fraction of its requested amount.

At the evidentiary hearing, Commissioner W. Kent Carper voiced his concerns over water rate affordability.

“The reason why the Kanawha County Commission is the only [local] government entity opposing this I don’t quite understand. I think more should,” he said. “But our concern is the affordability of water rates at this point in time. People can’t afford utility rates going up every other year or every year. Sometimes it’s every year because there are different charges besides the base rate … Our objection is these continuous, systemic, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back rate increases and surcharges and other charges certainly add up.”

The new rates took effect Saturday.

More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case Nos. 23-0383-W-42T and 23-0384-S-42T.

Tiny Homes, The Water Crisis And The State Of The State, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we began with interim meetings of the West Virginia Legislature and then the 2024 regular session kicked off on Wednesday along with Gov. Jim Justice’s final State of the State Address.

On this West Virginia Week, we began with interim meetings of the West Virginia Legislature and then the 2024 regular session kicked off on Wednesday along with Gov. Jim Justice’s final State of the State Address.

We hear about a new program to build tiny homes for kids aging out of the foster care system and a look back at the West Virginia Water Crisis. There are also stories about Appalachian Power’s request to bill customers for an extra $231 million, and we have the minority response to the governor.

News Director Eric Douglas is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

$70 Million Needed To Fix Fire Hydrants Over 10 Years

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has finalized a report on the status of fire hydrants throughout the state.

The regulatory agency found that there are nearly 50,000 hydrants, most operated by public utilities. It noted issues related to testing and replacement of the devices and recommended funding over a 10-year period to deal with problems.

According to the final report: “Engineering Staff also found that a significant percentage of the state’s nearly 50,000 hydrants are fifty-years of age or older and that the replacement cycle for fire hydrants is unsustainably long at almost three-quarters of a century. Across all water utilities there are more than 5,300 hydrants in need of prompt replacement, based on age alone. This includes more than 4,000 hydrants operated by non-profit utilities. The cost to replace these hydrants is significant.”

A May 2023 fire in Charleston brought the matter to the attention of the PSC when a house burned down after there was insufficient water pressure from two nearby fire hydrants.

On June 30, 2023, the commission opened a general investigation into the conditions of hydrants and ordered the Engineering Division to survey the entire state concerning fire hydrants in public and private domains.

The report revealed there are 49,906 fire hydrants in the state, with 95 percent operated by utilities and 5 percent in private hands. West Virginia-American Water had the largest number at 10,548, and the average number of hydrants per utility was 194.

The report said not enough utilities are testing the water flow through their systems and devices.

Five percent (1,917) of hydrants are installed on undersized lines that have a diameter of less than six inches, the report said.

It also said a number of the hydrants are aging and ought to be replaced on a faster cycle than is being done.

Eleven percent (4,015) of the fire hydrants are 50 years old or older. The Parkersburg Utility Board operates the oldest in the state at 138 years. But, many other water utilities reported having hydrants 100 years or older.

The report suggested the West Virginia Legislature appropriate $70 million to be used over a 10-year period to assist public utilities in replacing their aging hydrants.

The report said national testing standards should be added to the state rules. In addition, all water utilities operating fire hydrants should be required to certify in their annual report the number of hydrants inspected and the number of flow tests completed for the year.

More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 23-0555-W-GI.

Previous stories

PSC Investigating State’s Fire Hydrants

PSC Urges Legislators To Address Fire Hydrant Disrepair

Update: Legislators Hear Update On PSC Fire Hydrant Investigation

PSC Seeks Public Comment In Rate Increase Case

State regulators are encouraging public comments through January on a more than $200 million rate increase proposal filed by Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison.

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia has set aside three days for hearings on the companies’ proposed 15 percent increase in residential rates, commonly called base rates.

If approved by the commission, the average retail customer would see an increase of more than $18 in monthly rates, while the overall rate increase being sought by the companies is 13 percent.

“We encourage and actively seek comments from those affected by any rate increase pending before the commission,” PSC Chairman Charlotte R. Lane said. “But these larger cases seem to attract more notice than smaller cases.”

Both companies recently announced they will give customers a one-time fixed bill credit on their 2024 July bill after a PSC audit revealed financial misconduct and called for greater accountability of lobbying expenses and better record keeping.

An evidentiary hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 24 at the PSC headquarters at 201 Brooks St., Charleston. The case was filed May 31, 2023.

Public comments can be filed by email on the Commission’s website, or they may be mailed to the PSC. Reference Case No. 23-0460-E-42T in your comments.

Written comments should be addressed to Karen Buckley, executive secretary, 201 Brooks St., Charleston, WV, 25323.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 23-0460-E-42T.

Mon, PE Power Customers To Receive Credit For Misused Funds

Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison company customers will receive a one-time fixed bill credit on their 2024 July bill.

The company’s combined 800,000 customers will receive a part of the $2.5 million dollar credit. An audit ordered by state regulators into the operations of the power companies revealed financial misconduct and called for greater accountability of lobbying expenses and better record keeping.

The audit followed both companies’ requests for a rate increase.

An accounting firm hired by the Public Service Commision to investigate the two power companies recommended further investigations into millions of dollars in fuel procurement and management consulting and suggested further reviews elsewhere.
Both companies are a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation which paid a $230 million fine in 2021 as part of a deferred prosecution agreement for its role in a bribery scheme.

Hearings Set To Determine If Paden City Utility Are Distressed Or Failing

The Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia will hold public comment and evidentiary hearings Jan. 11, 2024, to determine whether the City of Paden City and Paden City Municipal Water Works is a distressed or failing utility.

The evidentiary hearing begins at 10 a.m. at the Paden City Municipal Building, 208 W. Main, Paden City. A public comment hearing will be held that same day at the same location beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The PSC opened proceedings on Nov. 3 into complaints about Paden City’s water and sewer systems. The preliminary investigation revealed that for years residents have dealt with contaminated water from a chemical called Tetrachloroethylene or PCE that is commonly used in dry cleaning. The United States Environmental Protection Agency added the Paden City Groundwater site to the Superfund National Priorities List, a list of hazardous waste sites eligible for remedial cleanup funding, in 2021. The EPA considers PCE as likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

According to PSC documents, two of the utility’s three air strippers – used to remove PCE from water – failed in 2018 and 2019. Although one of the strippers was repaired, levels as high as 21 parts per billion (ppb) of PCE have been recorded, above the federal maximum of 5 ppb.

The PSC filings detail a more recent incident in 2023, when a bypass valve for the air stripper failed, allowing a large percentage of water to bypass the air stripper unit and enter the finished water system.

The city filed a response on Nov. 20 that it is not a distressed utility and is not in “continual violation” of statutory or regulatory standards. It also said it took proper steps to remove PCE from its distribution system. This includes applying for emergency funding through USDA Rural Development as well as an application with the Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants Program after excessive PCE levels were detected in 2018.

Both systems serve customers in Wetzel and Tyler counties. The City of Paden City is a municipal utility that provides service to 1,262 sewer customers; and Paden City Municipal Water Works provides water service to 1,204 customers.