CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- There's even more bad news for West Virginia-American Water's 167,700 customers, who learned last week that rates are going up: Rates are rising even more than previously announced.

The state Public Service Commission faxed a news release late Wednesday reporting that the agency miscalculated the effect of state, federal and B&O taxes on the rate increase it announced on March 25.

Under the revised figures, "typical" residential customers who use 3,800 gallons of water a month will pay $1.80 more each month, not $1.44 as the PSC said last week. The new rates - a 3.5 percent increase - went into effect immediately.

West Virginia-American Water, which serves Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mercer, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Wayne and Webster counties, had asked for a 12.3 percent increase in May 2008. The PSC Consumer Advocate Division recommended the company cut its rates by 2.7 percent.

The company also received a rate increase of nearly 15 percent about a year ago.

For more information, go to the PSC Web site, www.psc.state.us, and reference case number 08-0900-W-42T.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5102.

The state Public Service Commission faxed a news release late Wednesday reporting that the agency miscalculated the effect of state, federal and B&O taxes on the rate increase it announced on March 25.

Under the revised figures, "typical" residential customers who use 3,800 gallons of water a month will pay $1.80 more each month, not $1.44 as the PSC said last week. The new rates - a 3.5 percent increase - went into effect immediately.

West Virginia-American Water, which serves Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mercer, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Wayne and Webster counties, had asked for a 12.3 percent increase in May 2008. The PSC Consumer Advocate Division recommended the company cut its rates by 2.7 percent.

The company also received a rate increase of nearly 15 percent about a year ago.

For more information, go to the PSC Web site, www.psc.state.us, and reference case number 08-0900-W-42T.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5102.