State representative Jay Goyal of Mansfield has introduced legislation to limit the burden on consumers who incur the costs of rate-case expenses for waterworks and sewage disposal companies.

Goyal sponsored H.B. 344 with state representative Marian Harris of Columbus. Goyal said during these tough economic times, Ohioans have been making a lot of difficult choices, but choosing between paying for clean drinking water or putting food on their table should not be one of them.

He said this legislation is about protecting Ohioans' consumer needs without sacrificing basic services. Goyal said waterworks and sewage disposal rate increases have become annual events in some cases, and have resulted in up to an eight-percent increase of a consumer's regular water and sewage bill.