WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Public Service Commission will consider rate increases for Ascension Water Co. that would boost a variety of customers' monthly bills by about 19 percent.

Commission staff and water company officials reached a joint agreement last month on rate increases on residential and commercial customers as well as increases in a variety of other fees, including for fire sprinklers and turn-ons, commission filings show.

Under the recommended rate increase, the typical residential customer's monthly bill would rise by $3.75 per month.

Commercial users would see monthly bills rise by $9.42.

Ascension's last water rate increase was based on the 2006 financial year, though the increase was granted in January 2008.