West Virginia ratepayers pack hearing, press utility for specifics on 30% water hike

West Virginia residents in Wood County turned out in force to challenge a proposed jump in water and sewer bills in the Lubeck Public Service District, pushing for clearer answers before paying more for a system they rely on every day.

The utility argues the higher charges are needed to prevent breakdowns in its aging system, but residents are asking for more transparency.

Here's what to know

According to WTAP, the proposal would raise water rates by about 30% and sewer rates by 14%, which district officials said would bring in roughly $1 million more each year for the utility.

In support of the increase, district officials cited worn infrastructure, higher treatment costs, staffing needs, and the need to strengthen reserves.

Kevin Watkins, an engineer for the PSD's engineering firm, said much of the system has outlasted its intended service life.

"Some of Lubeck's water lines are 70 years old, and water lines, they'll break, they'll leak," Watkins said, as WTAP reported. "Lubeck's great about going out and fixing leaks, but you can only fix a certain section of water line so many times. You can only put so many band-aids on an asbestos cement water line."

Watkins cited the February outage of the Larkmead water storage tank, which, according to WTAP, left about 570 customers under a boil water advisory for weeks.

He also said the district's original raw water line runs through a swamp, making any major break especially hard to repair quickly.

Still, residents and commissioners kept coming back to one main complaint, the outlet reported: The paperwork supporting the rate request did not clearly identify what specific work the additional money would pay for.

More background

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said that concern plainly.

"I have scores of documents in front of me," Colombo said, as WTAP reported. "Nowhere does it show we have this project we're going to work for. I mean, you're talking about projects and you're talking about extra tanks and you're talking about this, but in this increase for rates, I see no purpose that you're going to spend this money for. That's what really bothers me."

The district also said several other costs are climbing, including water treatment chemicals, which have nearly quadrupled in five years, well pumps needing repair or replacement, and a reserve fund that is short of target.

Accountant Zach Dobbins said, as WTAP reported, the district now contributes $155,000 a year to that account but should contribute more than $310,000 annually to satisfy state requirements.

Officials further said borrowing terms depend on whether rates meet affordability benchmarks.

What's being done?

After hearing the criticism, district officials said they would be more transparent moving forward.

They said that would include a quarterly customer newsletter and meetings at the local fire hall before future rate requests are heard by the commission.

Before the Aug. 22 vote deadline, the PSD is expected to provide more financial detail, including a clearer breakdown separating operating expenses from longer-term engineering or capital costs, WTAP reported.

Officials also said they would submit an alternative tiered rate proposal.

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