HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — Leaders from the cities of Hopewell and Alexandria and Prince George County have formally opposed a nearly 30% proposed water rate increase by Virginia-American Water Company (VAWC).
The afternoon of Friday, May 22, Hopewell officials announced their opposition to the proposed water rate increase and emphasized their commitment to “keeping our community informed about matters that directly affect our residents and households,” according to a letter from city manager Vincent Jones, dated Thursday, May 21.
Hopewell opposes proposed increase
According to city officials, VAWC has filed a proposal that would increase average water bills for Hopewell customers by nearly 30% — though the city said it opposes the proposal and is advocating for fair and reasonable rates for the community. This marks the fourth major rate increase requested by VAWC in the past eight years, per the filing, officials noted.
“Access to affordable water service is critically important to our residents and businesses,” said Johnny Partin, Hopewell mayor in a May 15 press release. “The City of Hopewell is committed to advocating for fair and reasonable rates, and we strongly encourage customers to make their voices heard during this public review process…