Last modified on June 17, 2026 at 10:59 am
Whitmer Water System Takeover
The Whitmer Water Association (WWA) served around 100 residents in Randolph County. By fall 2022, the utility’s only two employees had resigned, followed by the entire WWA board. Rates were insufficient to maintain the system, and the Randolph County Commission declared it distressed.
Under state law, the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) can order another utility to take over a failing system. In April 2023, the PSC informed the Elkins Water Board that it would eventually need to assume responsibility for Whitmer.
See our October 2023 press release.
Timeline
- November 14, 2022 – The Randolph County Commission filed a petition to the WV Public Service Commission to consider Whitmer Water Association a distressed and failing utility.
- May 25, 2023 – The WV Public Service Commission found that Whitmer is a distressed utility and Elkins is the most suitable capable proximate utility. The PSC then directed Elkins to acquire Whitmer.
- July 13, 2023 – Elkins and Whitmer filed a joint application for an interim operating agreement between Elkins and Whitmer. Since Whitmer Water Association was no longer a corporation in good standing and had no board, it had to be brought up to the standards of a legal entity to even be able to enter into this Agreement.
- Sept 13, 2023 – the WV Public Service Commission approved interim rates for Whitmer and an Interim Operating agreement between Elkins and Whitmer.
- December 15, 2023 – Elkins sent out the first round of billing processed by Elkins. As an example of the dire financial straits of Whitmer, we received a shut-off notice from First Energy for an electric bill of over $9,000 which had been unpaid for several months.
- January 1, 2024 – Elkins assumed full operations of the Whitmer Water System doing so under the interim operating agreement.
- Feb 1, 2024 – the WV Public Service Commission approved the interim water rates as the final rates and required both parties to close on the purchase agreement.
- On April 30, 2024 – Elkins filed a petition to reopen the Whitmer and Elkins cases. Elkins determined that unknown and unexpected issues with Whitmer continue to prevent the parties from closing on the purchase agreement. Issues include:
- Whitmer’s monthly revenue is not sufficient to sustain the operations. Whitmer is only bringing in approximately $4400 per month, and the operating expenses are approximately $11,000 per month. As a result, Elkins has incurred about $197,668 in expenses to date.
- Unpaid federal and state income taxes from June 30, 2019, to December 31, 2023, along with legal and account fees are expected to be approximately $200,000.
- Capital Costs – Replacing water meters, plant and system upgrades are projected to cost around $695,000.
- The Whitmer Water Association’s outstanding water fund bond’s remaining balance is $200,917.
- On May 10, 2024, the WV Public Service Commission ruled that:
- The petition filed on April 30 be reopened
- That the WV IJDC and the WDA approve the request to fund the request of $1,294,325 to the extent that the request qualifies for their funding.
- On May 24, 2024 – Representatives from Elkins met with the IJDC and WDA to discuss the possibilities of the request on the PSC Order from May 10.
- The two entities both agreed that due to various limitations involving grant funding, the only item they could help with is the capital costs of $695,739.27.
- These entities recommended that we approach the Randolph County Commission to help with the remaining expenses.
- Until these expenses are resolved, the City of Elkins is at a standstill with the purchase and acquisition agreement.
- Elkins cannot continue to assume these costs that are detrimental to its own customers and system, especially with no path of receiving any financial aid or reimbursement.
