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ELKINS -- The City of Elkins is preparing to crunch some numbers to determine what action to take when the fate of a Tygarts Valley Transfer petition for a rate increase is determined by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
Elkins Operations Manager Bob Pingley spoke about the issue with the city's Finance Committee during a virtual meeting this week. He said the city protested the increase on several grounds with the WVPSC. The petition would result in a sanitation fee increase for city residents.
The petition states that TVT is currently charging $75.15 per ton. If the petition is accepted, that cost will rise to $80.95 per ton.
"This was brought about back in April, we were notified that Tygarts Valley Transfer would be seeking a rate increase and I brought it to attention to the committee," Pingley said. "We looked into to it to make sure the city was protected. That case is still ongoing."
He said the city then got a notice on July 3 that a separate rate case had been filed by Tygarts Valley Transfer seeking to raise rates, in order to match an increase filed by the Tucker County Landfill.
"We intervened to protect the city's interest," Pingley said. "It is not that we necessarily are protesting … the actual tariff increase itself, we understand that. However, there was some stipulations and requests that accompanied that we felt were concerning on the part of the city."
Pingley said one of the concerns raised by the city was the lack of public notice of the rate increase request.
"We were given absolutely no notification that this was coming," Pingley said. "Our PSC attorney caught it in the daily report of the WVPSC. Public notification is supposedly required for these sort of things and there was none given."
Another concern raised by the city is that in the original filing TVT wanted to make the increase retroactive to June 5, when the Tucker County Landfill rate increase was approved.
"The last thing is they were asking for this rate increase to be placed into effect immediately without the standard five-day waiting period," Pingley said.
He said there have been several filings by the city and TVT and the WVPSC.
"I will say that Tygarts Valley (Transfer) is a little upset," Pingley said. "I understand that, they say they are losing money because of this. However, I feel it is our duty to make sure the interests of the city are protected and looked after."
Pingley said TVT has asked for an expedited ruling.
"We have made our position clear to the PSC," he said Thursday. "Tygarts Valley (Transfer) has asked for an expedite ruling … We did not protest that. … The PSC is going to have to make some sort of ruling."
Pingley said once the PSC rules on the increase, the city will then know how much more the sanitation costs could rise for the city.
"We will have a number of what we can expect it to cost the city," Pingley said.
Pingley said once that cost is determined he will meet with Treasurer Tracy Judy to determine what this will mean for the city. Pingley said he will bring recommendations to the next finance meeting.