Missouri American Water gets OK to boost revenue by $143 million per year

Missouri American Water, the St. Louis region’s dominant water utility, will soon increase its annual revenues by $143 million, based on settlement agreements approved this week by state regulators at the Missouri Public Service Commission.

The approval filed Wednesday does not resolve all matters tied to the nearly yearlong push to raise rates for the water utility that covers much of suburban St. Louis, and other parts of the state.

For instance, the precise rate impacts for customers have still not been determined, and won’t take effect until Missouri American Water makes separate filings, due by May 28, that are reviewed by the PSC.

But the move currently stands to raise base rates by about 25%, said John Coffman, an attorney for the nonprofit Consumers Council of Missouri, which advocates for consumers on utility issues and was among the entities to sign the agreement.

Missouri American Water did not provide additional details Friday about anticipated rate impacts.

The company originally requested to receive a 34% revenue increase, or $166.6 million in additional money per year — about $23 million more than granted in this week’s agreement.

Challenges to the PSC’s approval could still be filed in the coming days and weeks.