Aqua Ohio seeks 18 percent increase in rates over 3 years

An average family's bill would rise by less than $2 a month, an official said.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Aqua Ohio is seeking an 18 percent water rate increase over the next three years.
The company supplies water to Struthers, Poland, Lowellville and New Middletown, as well as to Beaver, Boardman, Canfield, Coitsville, Poland and Springfield townships.
Aqua presented its proposal Thursday night to representatives of Struthers, Mahoning County, which represents the unincorporated areas involved, and Lowellville and Poland villages, the other parties to the agreement.
Aqua Ohio also provides water to Mahoning Township in Pennsylvania, and partners with Campbell City in producing treated water.
The proposed rate increase is 6 percent each in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The increase would cost an average family an additional $1.75, $1.83 and $1.98 per month in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, based on consumption of 4,500 gallons a month, according to Albert J. Sauline, Aqua vice president for governmental relations.
The average family bill now is $29.19 per month. That would increase to $30.94, $32.77 and $34.75 in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, Sauline said during his presentation at Struthers City Hall on Thursday night.
Reason for request
He said the increase is needed to pay for an estimated $15.7 million in capital improvements planned over the next three years. They include some $10 million for treatment plant expansion and upgrades, and $1 million for repairs of dams at Pine and McKelvey lakes.
Sauline said Aqua would like to see new water rates go into effect by Feb. 1.
Representatives of the governmental units involved in the negotiations plan to meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and discuss a counterproposal.
Both sides said they would prefer to set the rates through local negotiations, as has been done for the past 20 years, than submit the issue to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
"Negotiating locally gives us some say on how some of the money is used," said Struthers Mayor Daniel C. Mamula.
alcorn@vindy.com