PSC sets deadline for intervention in Missouri American Water's request for sewer, water infrastructure rate increases

(From the Missouri Public Service Commission)

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) has set an October 7, 2026, deadline to intervene and participate in the Missouri-American Water Company’s (MAWC) request to change its water and sewer infrastructure rate adjustments (WSIRAs).

On September 16, 2026, Missouri-American Water Company (MAWC) filed petitions with the Commission seeking approval to recover the costs of eligible infrastructure system projects through changes to its water and sewer infrastructure rate adjustments (WSIRAs), as authorized by the General Assembly under Sections 393.1500-393.1509, RSMo. MAWC states the proposed WSIRAs would increase annual water revenues by approximately 2.5% and annual sewer revenues by approximately 0.5%.

The WSIRA allows investor-owned utilities to recover the cost of qualifying infrastructure improvements between general rate cases, if approved by the Commission. Only certain types of projects qualify, including infrastructure like water mains, valves, fire hydrants, service lines, meters, and other distribution system components that have reached the end of their useful lives. Routine maintenance, operating expenses, and new system expansion are generally not eligible.

Per Missouri-American Water, the eligible infrastructure system projects included in its request are as follows:

Replacement of, or cleaning and relining of, existing water and sewer pipes and associated infrastructure, including valves, hydrants, meters, service lines, laterals, sewer taps, curb stops and manholes;

Replacement of lead mains, lead goosenecks and lead service lines, along with associated valves and meters;

Replacement of booster station and lift station pumps with equipment of similar capacity and operation, as well as related pipes, valves and meters;

Facility relocations required due to construction or improvement of a highway, road, street, public way or other public works projects;

Replacement of water and wastewater treatment mechanical equipment with equipment of similar capacity and operation, including well and intake pumps, transfer pumps, high service or discharge pumps and metering pumps; and

Replacement of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) components necessary for the operation and monitoring of remote installations, including radio and cellular communication equipment and programmable logic controllers.

The Commission has consolidated MAWC’s water and sewer cases, with Case No. WR-2027-0038 designated as the lead case. The sewer case is Case No. SR-2027-0039.

Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, or by using the Commission's Electronic Filing and Information System (EFIS) at www.psc.mo.gov .

Individual citizens wishing to comment should contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230, telephone 1-866-922-2959, email opcservice@opc.mo.gov ) or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov ). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission.

Written comments may also be submitted by using the Commission's online comment form at https://psc.mo.gov/General/Submit_Comments . When submitting comments, please refer to Case No. WR-2027-0038.