Oak Hill’s request for sewer improvements gets approval

OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Fayette County town of Oak Hill’s request to make $8.4 million in improvements to its sewer system by replacing lines, and fixing pump stations and manholes was approved Monday by state regulators.

Oak Hill applied for a certificate from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia on September 29, 2023, to refurbish its wastewater collection and transmission system previously operated by the Arbuckle Public Service District.

A PSC administrative law judge endorsed the request for the 4,077 customers of the system in mid-April and those decisions become Commission orders 20 days later if the Commission takes no further action.

Under the request, the town will upgrade or replace 11,000 feet of lines, rehabilitate 480 manholes and two pump stations, and construct two new stations.

The city proposed to increase rates by 14.5 percent a month for the average residential customer using 3,223 gallons. That person’s bill will go up by $8.64 monthly. Commercial rates will increase 17.3 percent and industrial rates will go up by 17.5 percent.

The Commission received no protest after the town published the proposal.

“Staff concluded that the improvements are prudent measures to improve system performance consistent with Commission regulations,” the decision said.