History of Ohio American Water (OAW) Rate Increases
• On May 7, 2009, OAW filed a request for an overall rate increase of a 23 to 27 percent (depending on community served and services received) in 2010 and subsequent step increases in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The total requested increase over four years is about 60 percent. Current Case
• On November 12, 2008, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a 30.37 percent rate increase.
• On Oct. 12, 2007, Ohio American filed an application to increase its water rates 30.1 percent. 2007 Case
• On March 7, 2007, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a 14 percent rate increase.
• On March 17, 2006, Ohio American filed an application to increase its water rates 21.96 percent. 2006 Case
• On Feb. 23, 2005, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved an 18 percent rate increase.
• On Dec. 11, 2003, Ohio American filed an application to increase its water rates 19 percent. 2003 Case
• OAW has consistently asked for exorbitant rate increases since buying up residential water systems throughout Ohio in 2002, and has been awarded generous increases. PUCO has granted OAW rate increases that average 21 percent every two years.
• OAW’s latest request includes a 23 to 27 percent overall rate increase in 2010 and subsequent step increases in 2011, 2012 and 2013. If approved, the utility’s overall rates for water service will have increased 325 percent since OAW purchased the utilities in 2002.
OAW and American Water Rate Increase Patterns
• OAW's latest rate increase was filed just five months after it received its last double-digit rate increase, reflecting a strategy of seeking frequent, exorbitant rate increases year after year.
• OAW parent company, foreign-owned American Water, has been systematically raising rates for the majority of its customers in the 32 states in which it owns water companies.
• In the first half of this year, American Water reports that it filed rate applications in Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Illinois for $182.6 million in increased annualized revenues. As of July 31, 2009, the company was awaiting the results of rate cases in 10 states, which could generate up to $258.1 million in total annualized revenues.
Click to View OAW's Rate Cases
