| West Virginia-American Water customers are facing a 25% rate increase.
The 19 water utilities, most of which were originally built with taxpayer money and operated as local public utilities, are now owned by an international conglomerate.
The Public Service Commission has scheduled a series of public hearings around the state on the proposed rate hike.
The first hearing is set for December 3 at the PSC's Charleston headquarters.
Many US Public utilities that have essentially been privatized are now being purchased by foreign corporations under globalization and free trade law.
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