Houlton Water Company. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times) HWC proposes water rate hike Customers of Houlton Water Company may soon be paying more for their water and sewer bills. HOULTON, Maine — Customers of Houlton Water Company may soon be paying more for their water and sewer bills. Customers were notified in a Jan. 25 letter that Houlton Water Company intends to increase its rates for water service. The proposed rate adjustments will increase HWC’s operating revenues by 10.9 percent. HWC last adjusted its rates in 2017, three years ago, according to General Manager Greg Sherman. “The proposed increase is necessitated by the decline in sales and increased costs over the past several years,” Sherman said. “The proposed rate will increase the average residential bill by $2.01 per month or $6.03 per quarter.”