Pennsylvania American Water filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise its rates by 14.7 percent.

The rate increase would amount to $59.2 million per year for the utility company.

Dan Warnok, president of Pennsylvania American, said the rate increase is needed to help the company pay for improvements to its aging infrastructure and increases in operating costs, including chemicals, power and labor costs.

If the company's entire request is approved, the total bill for the average residential customer using 4,500 gallons of water a month would increase from $39.01 to $45.

The company said any changes in rates likely would not go into effect until late January 2008, pending a review by the Public Utility Commission.