Public hearing set for water rate increase request

A public hearing on Missouri-American Water Company's request to dramatically increase rates for Joplin customers will be held next Wednesday at Missouri Southern State University. The following news release was issued:

The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold a local public hearing in Joplin, Missouri on April 7, 2010, to receive customer comment on a water rate case filed by the Missouri-American Water Company. Customers who have had any service related issues may also bring those to the attention of the Commission during the local public hearing. The Joplin local public hearing schedule appears below.

Missouri Southern State University
Corley Auditorium, 3950 Newman Road

A question and answer session will be conducted at the local public hearing from 6:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The local public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will go until all of those present have had an opportunity to be heard.

This local public hearing will be held in facility that meets the accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any person who needs additional accommodations to participate in this hearing should call the Public Service Commission’s hotline at 1-800-392-4211 (voice) or Relay Missouri at 711 before the hearing.

Consumers wishing to comment on the rate proposal may also: Mail a written comment to the Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102; Electronically submit a comment to the PSC through the Internet by accessing the PSC’s Electronic Filing and Information System at http://m1e.net/c?37658006-sqTdkHLYUOtIA%405185878-SGbORSOfbRMag (please reference the water case-WR-2010-0131); or Contact the Office of the Public Counsel, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 573-751-4857 or toll-free 866-922-2959, opcservice@ded.mo.gov . Comments are viewable by the public. Do not include any information in a public comment that you do not wish to be made public.

On October 30, 2009, the Missouri-American Water Company filed rate requests with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking to increase annual water operating revenues by approximately $48.5 million and annual sewer operating revenues by approximately $143,600.

The impact of the proposed increase on the average residential water customer in the Joplin District, according to the company’s filing, appears below.

Joplin (5,500 gallons) -- Current Rate: $32.58 per month; Proposed Rate: $38.41 per month

Missouri-American Water Company serves approximately 584,000 water customers and approximately 1,100 sewer customers in Missouri.