Missouri American Water files new infrastructure rate hike request

Missouri American Water is asking state regulators to approve another increase for customers as a much larger rate case filed this summer remains under review.

The company filed a request this week with the Missouri Public Service Commission to increase its Water and Sewer Infrastructure Rate Adjustment, or WSIRA.

They say this surcharge allows them to recover costs for certain completed infrastructure projects between its larger rate cases.

This latest request would increase annual water revenues by about 2.5% and sewer revenues by about 0.5%.

Officials say that does not mean every customer’s entire bill would increase by those percentages.

For Joplin-area residential water customers, the WSIRA charge would increase from about 80 cents to about $1.10 per 1,000 gallons used.

A customer using 4,500 gallons a month would pay roughly $1.31 more per month under the new request.

The money would cover qualifying projects such as replacing aging water and sewer lines, valves, hydrants, meters, pumps and other infrastructure.

The request is separate from the major rate increase Missouri American Water filed July 1.

In that case, the company is seeking approximately $191.9 million in additional annual base-rate revenue.

If approved as originally requested, the company estimates the average residential water customer using 4,500 gallons a month would pay about $15 more per month.

That means the latest WSIRA request could affect bills before the larger rate case is resolved.

However, the charges are not designed to simply stack on top of each other indefinitely.

Missouri law requires the WSIRA to be reset to zero when a new general rate case takes effect and qualifying WSIRA costs are incorporated into the utility’s new base rates.

The PSC is still reviewing the July general rate case, and the new WSIRA request is also subject to commission review.

Let the state of Missouri know how you feel!

You can call the PSC at 800-392-4211, email [email protected] or submit comments through the commission’s website. They can also contact the Missouri Office of the Public Counsel at 866-922-2959 or [email protected].

Comments should reference Case No. WR-2027-0038.

The deadline to formally intervene as a party in the new case is Oct. 7.

The July general rate increase is being considered separately under Case No. WR-2026-0304.