Water rate increase proposed for St. Joseph customers, hearing set for Nov. 7
By Cameron Montemayor
Missouri American Water customers in St. Joseph and statewide could see a near $20 monthly increase to their water bills if approved by state regulators in the coming months.
Missouri American Water Company has requested a 34.4% increase in rates for water and sewer services, or about $166.6 million annually. This would increase the average water bill by $18 a month — or roughly $206 annually — for customers who use around 5,475 gallons of water.
Customers will have the chance to ask questions and testify against the company’s rate request during a public hearing held by the Missouri Public Service Commission — which is reviewing the case — on Nov. 7 at St. Joseph City Hall at 6 p.m.
St. Joseph resident Joann Penland is strongly opposed to the request and said water rates are high enough as they currently are.
“They just raised it two years ago, why raise it? It’s high enough now. It doesn’t need to be any higher,” she said.
The proposal marks the second water rate increase request in the last two years following approval by state regulators for the company to raise rates by 20% for residential customers in St. Joseph. Those new rates took effect in May 2023.
If approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission, any new rates are expected to become effective in mid-2025.
The Missouri Public Service Commission has ratemaking authority for investor-owned utilities like Missouri American and will ultimately determine what amount of increase to approve.
Veronica Cobb, a St. Joseph resident, said the proposed rate hike will likely put increased pressure on many residents and families, particularly low-income households or those on fixed incomes.
“We’re having trouble as is, and my husband has a good job,” Cobb said. “I just wish they would take into account that its hard to afford it as it is.”
Changes to bills for wastewater customers will vary depending on the service area. Missouri American Water filed the request on July 1.
The utility company serves nearly 1.6 million Missourians and supplies drinking water to more than 31,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in St. Joseph.
“Some customers would see a $1 decrease and others would see up to a $27 increase,” a mail letter to customers from the company said.
The request is being made to help cover part of $1.5 billion in completed or planned system improvements across the state from January 2023 to May 2026. Overall investments include the replacement or installation of approximately 250 miles of aging water and wastewater pipes to help reduce main breaks and sewer overflows.
Additional projects include upgrading of treatment plants, fire hydrants, storage tanks, wells, pumping and lift stations across the state.
In March, the company began the process of replacing nearly 41,000 feet of aging water pipe, or roughly 7.5 miles, in St. Joseph. St. Joseph’s infrastructure project also includes enhancements to the Faraon and Randolph Water Boosters, a critical component of the water system that impacts water pressure and service reliability for residents and the effectiveness of 3,500 fire hydrants across St. Joseph.
A potential increase in water rates comes alongside additional utility requests by Evergy to raise electric rates for Evergy Missouri West customers by roughly 13.42%, which equates to a $17 a month increase, or $204 annually.
