WEST VIRGINIA: WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE - Customers Facing 30% Increase

(05/16/2008)

By Bob Weaver West Virginia has plentiful water, coal and natural gas, but the resources are being funneled back into the state at some of the highest costs. The state's largest water works, once protected as a local utility, was sold to a multi-national conglomerate, which has now been sold back to an American corporation. The water company received a 14.9 percent rate increase in March. They are now seeking a second increase of about 15%. Charleston newspapers say American Water Works Co. Inc.'s 167,744 West Virginia customers are a proverbial drop in the bucket, making up just 5.1 percent of the company's customer base, but they generated $29.5 million or 6.2 percent of the company's profits last year. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, has vowed to try to block another water rate hike. Last month German utility conglomerate RWE spun off West Virginia American and other water utilities it owned in North America under the American Water Works Co. Inc. name.

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