A SAMPLING OF YOUR RESPONSES:
Wheer does it end,these people get rich,while more&more people go to poverty.Should it put a family in a position, to do without to pay something as simple as the water bill.It not only raises the water bill but also the sewer bill.It's getting to where it's cheaper to dig a well.
John D. Haynes, Saint Albans
Charlestonians will be sorry they did not Supportjay Goldmans ideal to do something about it.
Roy Jones, Charleston
An increse may be in order, but i find 16.4% to be excessive.
dave isaacs, danville
No, There are millions of people living in proverity now, why make them have to turn off their water too.
C Thorn, Parkersburg
That is ridiculous! What are they thinking wanting more money. I am sure they make enough money now as it is. What about people who are barely getting by on what money they are making now. We don't cry around every year wanting raises. There are alot of poor people that cannot afford this kind of increase. I think they are wanting money for themselves instead of maintenance costs & rising operation. They need to think more about those who cannot afford this increase. West virginia is starting to get ridiculous about more money & more taxes. This state is one of the poorest around, and all that keeps happening are higher taxes & rate increases. Some people should be ashamed of themselves.
Tina Crouse, Charleston
I live where there is no city water, (we have to haul it in or you have a well) therefore, I would not mind a water bill. Why can't they spend that money to get water where the people need it? It stinks not being able to do the laundry when you want because you don't have enough water to do so. If they would put city water in where I live that would create more customers, therefore resulting in more money coming in from payments.
Kelly Pauley, Clendenin
West Virginia economy is awful and no one can afford it.
Travis Ratcliff, Charleston
Water prices dont need to be raised they r high enough. So much had been raised in prices and tax raised but there is no pay raises to cover it and familys r getting poorer all the time
Tabby, St Albans
They got our water, now they want our money. Whats next.
David Gray, South Charleston
One word: GREED!
Teresa Parcell, Elkview
WVAWC does not need another rate increase. Pretty soon they will have a flat rate of $50.00 per month or even $75.00 Per month no matter how much water you use. That is absurd for them to ask for another increase
Melissa Abbott, South Charleston
Why? We use too much for everything bath, wash car, water the lawn, flower the garden ect why need rasie
Jeffrey, Nitro
The increases that the water co. has received in the past does not reflect to the public what they have done with the money, except to pay their administrators? I pay them enough as it is.
Mona, St. Albans
Things are already to expense enough and we dont need to pay anymore for water. It is an outrage to think that people have to pick between paying their water bill or buying food for the week!
Brandy, Elkview
I already pay out 79.00 dollars. I wish my bill was 36.00 dollars if they raise i then,my bill will be higher then that. My answer is no i dont think they should.
Chris Finney
What did you dumb West Virginians think, when you let a Germany buy your water. Wake up and smell the water. You will be paying what ever they want to charge from now on. Look on the bright side you can still drill your own well.
Wren33, Dunbar
I think the water bill is to high now
Tony Smith, Danville
Don't think so the water bill is high enough now. Better hold on to the profits they have now and quit pushing the limit/
Jim Spriggs, Cross Lanes
My water bill is already too high!! Not only that...I have had to call them before over it.They stated that my water usage was an exact reading,but I knew it hadn't been read that month.I had parked our camper on top of the meter to where they would have had to ask me to move it to do one of their so called exact readings.They hadn't.When I called to tell them of their mistake, they came out and read it then.My water bill for that month was re-estimated and almost half the cost was taken off.I think they cheat us enough.Now...they know I am watching...every month.I can't afford an 80 dollar bill they try to put on me.. when in fact it was only 35 dollars.They need to give us a break and lower it if you ask me.So to the increase....I say no no no....if they do this increase, alot of people will go back to their well water.
Jon, Danville
My water bill is already rediculous, and increase is crazy!
Alicia, Cross Lanes
I'm a single household and my bill runs $30.00 per month. It's ridiculous.
Stacy Macfarlane, Tornado
I know that its all about money.There is no need to increase the cost of a fee that is already too high. Enough already,if this does't stop with the taxes increasing and utilities,we are moving!
Mrs. Marvine Gates, Clendenin
In the less than 7 years since WVAWC took over Pinch Public Service customers water rates have more than doubled and service is no better. Rates should be dropping now thanks to low interest rates - most of their cost is investment. And now they even want us to pay them to increase the size of their company.
Joe Sims, Pinch
The utilites need to remember that there are a number of customers out here that are on fixed incomes. Some can't afford a rate increase.
Alan J. Short, Dunbar. WV
What is the reason for the increase. Most rural folks will go back to using well water. Why such an increase? That is unheard of!
Sherri Rhodes, Hurricane
The Water Bills are definitely too high now.I think they need to lower the rate.Our water bill is alot higher than 36 dollars for residential.
Christy, Webster Springs
As with any company in West Virginia, our only choice of a water company wants more.
Emily Taylor, Charleston
We pay enough for it as it is. They keep raising all the utilites and everything but it dont always mean that we are getting a pay increase to make up for the increases. But even if the community says no on an increase they wil probably still get one. We have no say on it!
Donna, St Albans
I did not get a 16.4% raise last year. It is to large of an increase.
Jerry Ryder, Elkview
How can the average family afford yet another increase in rates for something? They've already got one increase in water rates, don't push it, WVAWC! Gas has skyrocketed, now water, what's next?
B. Moss, Charleston
Utilities are too much already. I'm sick & tired of hearing about the price hike on everything. The companies already make too much off their customers. I don't understand why the ole mighty dollar makes utility companies drool. The more they get paid, the more the customers suffer. Especially the area senior citizens. And, not to mention, young couples like myself & my family. Enough with price hikes & let people have a little money for themselves instead of giving all our hard earned money to utility companies.
Melinda Sheets, Bradley
It's not right that WV pays higher prices than a lot of other states for utilities, yet we have lower incomes than most states.
Rema Jordan, Charleston
No! The reason for the increase is that their margin of profit for the stock holders isn't at the 200% level and the raise for the CEO's aren't what they want.I have city water.I have 7 psi at my tap.I'm going back to my well.
Greg Holmes,
We pay enough for our water now. How do they think retired people are going to pay these high utility costs?
Martha Fitzgerald, Charleston, WV
I think it stinks like so many other increases municipalities want and try to get. Enoughs enoughs!
Don Halliwill, Hurricane
How much profit does a company need? No!!! No!!! No!!!
David A. Frampton, Cross Lanes, WV
When that company from Germany took over they promised no rate increases. We are being priced out of West Virginia by greedy corporations, coal companies and by a government who is only for business and not it's citizens. What is good for the few is more important then the needs of the many in this state. My family will be leaving within the next 2 years and taking our job skills and tax dollars with us. I only hope the state wakes up before it's too late and the only ones left are those who don't work or pay taxes.
Nina Cooper, Nellis
WV can not take no more. Not all people are getting raises to meet these demands. This state is killing the working man on just trying to survive.
Cindy Jordan, Cross Lanes
I think it's ridiculous, we are in a crisis right now and are suffering from the hardships of an impending war and higher gas, water and other bills. This is not what we need right now to make our lives less stressful. How come now that it has changed hands they want a raise????
Cindy, Charleston
My answer is yes and no - I can go along with a smaller increase, but 16% seems high to me. Why not somewhere around half of that? I understand security is important and employees need pay raises, but 16%?
Sandy Cooper, South Charleston
I think the water company has received enough rate increases in the recent past. the Public Service Commision should step in and investigate just were the other increases have went. Just like Charter Cable raising basic cable to ludicrous $54.95, the utility companies need to be kept in check to stop them from gouging consumers. They always want more money, but their customer service always goes DOWN! How do they think the senior citizens are going to afford it? I bet they don't have an answer to that!
Mark Fulks, Charleston
Higher employee rates isn't a good reason to ask for an increase. There are other ways to raise money for situations such as this. It's simple economics, and a company such as this, employes a person to find ways to raise money so issues like this can be avoided. Asking for an increase is just an easy way out.
Jason McComas, Huntington
I think that all utility and commerical companies are taking advantage of the American people. They continue to get increases while the working population does not.
Carol Carpenter, Chesapeake
All new companys do this . They just want to get richer
Frank Arthur, Sissonville
West Virginia American Water charges enough for water now,they also charge a $10.00 Surcharge, so for alot of us its not $42.00 It would be $50.00 plus..Alot of people are on a fixed income,how can we afford a rate increase? I say no to the increase.
Kimi White, Winifrede
Water cost are high as it is. What will the poor do?
D. Frye, Chapmanville
It would be great at the rate i am paying
Audrey, Logan
With water on the raise people can not aford to live in West Virginia. I think they should leave it at where it at.
Kathy
All they need to do is trim their budgets, like the residents of WV do. People in this State cannot continue to be charged for other people's incompetence!
A. Crawford, Charleston
Guess what? I already pay for the water twice. I dont need no rate hike. My water goes out my pipes into the creek but I still pay for waste water disposal. Go figure!
Terri Bee, Barrett
What do you think? Does anyone want an increase in any of there bills? NO!!! Gas prices is enough to hurt us all. These are items we have to have and most of our people cant afford them. Now jobs are at hault.
Melissa, Nellis
No, I don't believe they need the increase. What it comes down to is that they know that they can get away with it because water is something we have to have and we really don't have a choice in the matter.
Kim Stepp, Dunbar
If they increase the water rate so will the sewage rate go up also. This make it a double increase thru Union Public Service District
Terry Petry, CROSS LANES
If you add the waste water bill with the water bill as Americal water company does, most West Virginians will be working about two weeks for the money to pay. Remember that if you can't pay the waste water they shut off your water too!! The median income is approximately 25,000.00. When you put mortage, insurance all other taxes like school tax and food tax, other utility bills raising kids something has to give. Either get rid of the PSC and allow competition in or hold down rates to an affordable rate.
Roboslack, Charleston
I think giving one more cent to a German based company is a slap in Uncle Sams face. It is already an outragous expense.
Nancy Ash, Belle
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