The rate hike was approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, according to Kenneth W. Baumann, vice-president of production at Consumers Pennsylvania Water Company-Shenango Valley Division, which sells water to Masury Water Co., one of its subsidiaries.

"We raised our rates last April for Shenango Valley but in Ohio, rates couldn’t be increased without the PUCO’s approval," said Baumann.

Consumers asked for an almost 28 percent increase for Masury Water Co. in April, but after negotiating with PUCO and the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, a state utility advocate, PUCO decided on an overall 23.9 percent increase.A household that uses 1,100 cubic feet of water will see its monthly bill of about $33 go up to about $40 -- an increase of approximately 21 percent, according to Baumann.

The rate hike will affect about 1,700 Masury customers, and about 3,000 customers elsewhere in Trumbull County, Masury Water Co. president Walter J. Pishkur said in a January story.

The sole reason for the rate increase is to help cover costs for the $35 million water treatment plant that opened in Sharon last July.

Baumann said there will be no more rate increases related to the treatment plant.

The Trumbull County Utilities Department pays for water from Masury Water and may appeal PUCO’s decision.

The rate increase will date back to March 23 on customers’ water bills.