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Report for America is a national service program coordinated by The GroundTruth Project.The inivitiative is made possible in rural Appalachia with support from the Galloway Family Foundation.

W.Va. American Water Asks To Double Monthly Surcharge For Improvement Projects

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West Virginia American Water, one of the Mountain State’s largest regulated water utilities, has shared a $50 million plan for infrastructure upgrades in 2021. 

The plan, if approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, would increase a monthly  “distribution system improvement charge” to customers from roughly $1.60 now to a little more than $3 starting in January 2021.

American Water would pay for projects listed in the plan using these surcharges and its own capital as a national, publicly traded company. 

Some of those proposed costs include $12 million for water treatment plant upgrades, to keep up with new requirements from the federal government, and $8 million to help failing water systems that American Water has acquired. 

American Water acquired the former Boone-Raleigh Public Service District in August. Earlier this year American Water also took over water needs for the town of Glasgow, in Kanawha County. 

Emily Allen is a Report for America corps member.

CORRECTION: This article was changed at 8:20 p.m. to indicate the increase in monthly surcharges West Virginia American Water is requesting. They're asking to increase monthly surcharges from roughly $1.60 now to roughly $3 in January 2021.

Emily Allen works in Charleston covering the state Legislature and public affairs throughout southern West Virginia.

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