By Rachel Molenda The city of Charleston plans to fight West Virginia American Water's proposed 28 percent rate increase. City Council on Monday voted to become one of several groups to intervene in the water company's rate case, which is currently in front of the Public Service Commission.The rate $35 million hike would affect 168,000 customers in 19 counties.Councilman Jerry Ware, a former West Virginia American Water employee, abstained from the vote.Both the Kanawha County Commission and Kanawha County Regional Development Authority have filed to intervene in the rate case.The Commission requested in June that the PSC launch a general investigation into utility infrastructure, West Virginia American Water's in particular.