NewsRoom
kentucky-american-water-files-for-sewer-rate-adjustment

Kentucky American Water Files for Sewer Rate Adjustment

Request driven by more than $8 million in system improvements

Kentucky American Water today filed a request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for an adjustment in the rates paid by its wastewater (sanitary sewer) customers. The request is driven by infrastructure investments made by the company since 2014 — the last time a sewer rate increase was filed — to continue providing high-quality, reliable wastewater service.

“Since our last sewer rate case in 2014, we will have invested $8.8 million in infrastructure upgrades, which include replacing the Owenton wastewater treatment plant’s lagoon liner, completing multiple other upgrades at our Owenton, Rockwell, Millersburg, North Middletown and Ridgewood sewer treatment plants, as well as numerous sewer line replacements within areas served by Kentucky American Water,” said Nick Rowe, president of Kentucky American Water. “These wastewater infrastructure investments are necessary to help ensure reliable wastewater services that are compliant with local, state and federal regulations.”

The company provides wastewater service to approximately 1,375 customers in portions
of Clark and Franklin counties as well as in the cities of Millersburg, North Middletown
and Owenton.

In an effort to minimize the effect of the proposed rate adjustment on customer bills, Kentucky American Water has requested a four-year phase-in for new rates. If the company’s proposed rates are approved as requested, the average residential sewer customer would experience an increase of $7.66 per month, or $0.25 per day, in 2022; $9.89 per month, or $0.33 per day, in 2023; $12.73 per month, or $0.42 per day, in 2024; and $15.90 per month, or $0.52 per day, in 2025.

Kentucky American Water’s rates are based on the actual cost of providing wastewater service. To help mitigate the financial impact to customers, the company works to control costs as much as possible and operate efficiently. The PSC will undergo an extensive analysis of the company’s filing, and any new rates set and approved by the PSC would not be effective until June 1, 2022, at the earliest.

“Kentucky American Water makes prudent, ongoing investments in our wastewater systems. We’re committed to protecting our communities from public health concerns and quality of life issues associated with failing infrastructure while also keeping in mind the need to maintain affordable services for our customers,” continued Rowe.

Kentucky American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately half a million people. For more information, visit www.kentuckyamwater.com and follow Kentucky American Water on Twitter and Facebook.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.


Media Contacts

Susan Lancho

Senior Manager, External Communications

859.268.6332

susan.lancho@amwater.com