The public hearings on West Virginia American Water's request for a 28 percent water rate increase begin next week.
The Public Service Commission announced the schedule of meetings, at which American Water customers will have the opportunity to speak about the proposed rate increase.
The first public hearings will be held on Sept. 30 at 1 p.m and 6 p.m. at the Lewis County Courthouse in Weston. Other hearings will be held in Huntington on Oct. 1, in Fayetteville on Oct. 7, Princeton on Oct. 8, and Charleston on Oct. 26.
The evidentiary hearing on the rate case will be held at the PSC office in Charleston on Oct. 27 to Oct. 30.
If approved, the rate increase would provide the company with $35.4 million more annually.
The company has also requested a 22 percent increase on sewer rates for 1,050 customers in Fayette County. That increase would bring in an additional $176,895 annually.