Missouri American Water seeks slight rate increase
Your water bill could be going up by 20¢ a day, which equates to about $6 a month. Read the full press release from Missouri American Water below:
Missouri American Water today filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC) to review its water rates following an extensive examination of investments to provide safe and reliable water and sewer service.
The rate review includes $920 million in water system improvements and $30 million in sewer system improvements from January 2018 to May 2022.
“We carefully plan and invest in our water and sewer systems to provide safe, clean, and reliable service to nearly 1.5 million Missourians in more than 200 communities across the state,” said Debbie Dewey, president of Missouri American Water. “These investments are key to our commitment to provide outstanding service and reliability, both now and for future generations.”
Investments in the rate review include the replacement of approximately 275 miles of aging water and sewer pipelines and the upgrading of treatment plants, storage tanks, wells and pumping stations across the state.
“The residents and businesses in the Joplin area rely on us to provide safe, reliable water service for quality of life, economic development and fire protection,” said Matt Barnhart, senior operations manager southwest division. “With more than 515 miles of water pipe serving area customers, we must continue to make these investments to maintain and improve service.”
The MoPSC’s review and audit of the company’s request is expected to take 11 months. Any new rates set by the Commission at the end of the process would not become effective until mid-2021.
“By making prudent, ongoing investments to maintain and upgrade our water and sewer systems, Missouri American Water is committed to protecting public health and safety in the communities we serve,” Dewey stated. “At the same time, we remain steadfastly committed to addressing the needs of our most vulnerable customers.”
Dewey stated that Missouri American Water is continuing to respond to financial hardships the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for many residents and businesses. The company has issued a temporary moratorium on shut-offs for non-payment and suspended all late fees since March, and continues to offer payment arrangements to customers who need assistance. Additionally, the company provides financial assistance to low-income customers through its H2O Help to Others Program™.
“In addition to the company’s efforts to provide financial assistance and flexibility to our customers, we work hard to control costs and operate efficiently,” continued Dewey. “These efforts enable us to invest in our systems while keeping customer rates as low as possible, with high-quality drinking water still less than a penny a gallon.”
If the company’s proposed rates are approved as requested, the monthly water bill for a typical residential customer in Joplin using 4,000 gallons per month would be $40, an increase of about 20 cents a day.
For more information on the company’s rate review and to find out what actions customers may take, call customer service at 1-866-430-0820 or visit www.missouriamwater.com and select “Your Water and Wastewater Rates” under the Customer Service menu.