NEWS RELEASE:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (July 19, 2012) ? West Virginia American Water filed a
petition with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia today, seeking
a rate discount for certain low-income customers.
"While we have made sincere efforts to make water service even more
affordable for those customers in the greatest need, water service costs
have increased over the years due to much needed capital investment to
ensure the reliability of water service and to meet new, more stringent
regulations," said President Jeff McIntyre. "We embarked on this effort as
a way to lessen this impact for customers struggling to make ends meet."
If granted, residential West Virginia American Water customers would be
able to receive a 20-percent discount on their monthly bill if they receive
Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF), Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families-Unemployed Parent Program (TANF-UP) or assistance from the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they are 60 years of
age or older. Under the program, the average residential household bill
(3,550 gallons) would be discounted from $41.37 to $33.10 per month and the
minimum bill (1,500 gallons) would be discounted from $21.67 to $17.34 per
month.
"Although water and sewer bills are among the lowest household bills West
Virginians pay, our rates must reflect the true cost of providing service,
which includes our capital investments as well as all of the operating
costs associated with the treatment, monitoring and distribution of your
water," McIntyre said. "Our current rates provide our customers with high
quality water service at an exceptional value ? approximately a penny per
gallon. With this discount program in place, some customers will now
receive this service for even less than a penny per gallon."
The discounted rate program, which is administered through the West
Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and is already in place
for electric and gas utilities, was recently expanded to include private
water utilities through legislation. The bill passed due to the
collaborative effort of the state Legislature, Public Service Commission,
Consumer Advocate Division, AARP and West Virginia American Water. The
customer savings associated with this program would not be subsidized by
other West Virginia American Water customers. Rather, the company would be
reimbursed through a credit toward its state business and occupation tax.
In the past, West Virginia American Water has offered utility assistance
through the Dollar Energy Fund, which historically has provided one-time
grants to a few hundred eligible West Virginia American Water customers
each year. This new low income customer assistance program would allow
thousands of customers to receive assistance each month year round.
West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK),
is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and
reliable water services to approximately 600,000 people. Founded in 1886,
American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater
utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs
approximately 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water,
wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in
more than 30 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found by
visiting www.westvirginiaamwater.com.
