ThisWeek CW 10/22/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/10/19/madison-township-aqua-ohio-customers-to-see-another-rate-increase.html

Madison Township residents once again will see an increase in their water and sewer services bills following the Oct. 7 approval of a rate case filed by Aqua Ohio with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

According to a notice sent to the township from Aqua Ohio, the company submitted a rate case on May 1 seeking approval to collect a “system improvement charge” in the Franklin County Sewer District to fund the replacement and rehabilitation of infrastructure associated with the county’s water services.

“Improvements totaling more than $862,000 have been made,” according to the notice, which said the PUCO-approved surcharge of 3 percent to the monthly sewer bill will result in a per-month increase of $1.48 per 4,000 gallons of water, which the company said is the average residential use in the county.

Township Administrator Susan Brobst said all of the associated documents have been posted to the township website, madisontownship.org, for residents’ review; if they have further questions or concerns, customers may contact Aqua Ohio directly at 877-987-2782.

“Improving any utility system comes with a cost, and unfortunately, any increase in rates will cause some residents additional hardship,” Brobst said. “Residents should be aware the PUCO staff did extensive review of the Aqua Ohio requests and many of the items were denied by the Commission. These include new meters, liners, valves and nearly $82,000 worth of smoke tests on the infrastructure.”

At least one township trustee, Gary McDonald, has asked Aqua Ohio representatives to attend a board meeting to address the findings.

Brobst has also been in touch with the PUCO liaison, who indicated the agency would be happy to attend a future meeting as well.

“I had the opportunity to speak with state Rep. Heather Bishop’s aide recently and our discussion included the hardship and additional impact this will have on our residents and that enough is enough,” McDonald said. “Madison Township families are already financially strapped.

“This additional charge is adding insult to injury to all those residents struggling to survive and meet their obligations in paying their bills,” he said. “I have been contacted on several occasions by residents asking what relief and assistance can be offered on their water bills, and I don’t have an answer for them.”

McDonald called the increase heartbreaking.

“In late 2014, Aqua Ohio received an increase of 9.7 percent for the construction and implementation of the reverse osmosis system and this was to include the system improvement cost,” he said.

“The system improvement charge will now be a separate bill, consisting of a charge based on the 4.5 percent, which equals $2.11 per 4,000 gallons of water, and now a sewer rate (increase) of 3 percent or $1.48 per 4,000 gallons.

“Shortly after Aqua Ohio purchased Ohio American Water, they revised their billing consumption rate from 4,500 gallons down to 4,000 gallons, allowing them to collect more dollars. This revision should have paid for any additional improvements, or at least lower future rate increases,” McDonald said.

The new charges will appear on all bills postmarked after Oct. 7. However, the company stated the charges may be adjusted or eliminated based on any future PUCO findings.