Water rate hike disputed by customers

Similar stories:

• Public can comment on planned water hike for Los Osos and Edna Valley

  Public can comment on planned water hike for Los Osos and Edna Valley

  The public will have an opportunity Friday to talk to the state Public Utilities Commission about plans by Golden State Water Co. to raise its rates by nearly 50 percent in Los Osos and the Edna Valley.

  Public participation hearings will be held at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday at the South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades Ave. in Los Osos. It is one of eight hearings the commission is holding throughout the state.

  The private water company has proposed raising rates for its 3,300 customers in Los Osos and the Edna Valley by 48.9 percent in 2013. A smaller increase is planned for customers in the Nipomo area.

• Double-digit rate increase is an outrageous request

  Double-digit rate increase is an outrageous request

  Golden State Water Co. has a rebellion on its hands. It deserves it. In several communities across the state, ratepayers are boiling over steep rate increases the water purveyor is requesting from the California Public Utilities Commission.

  Overall, the company is seeking a $58 million increase from its 256,000 customers in 2013, followed by anearly $9 million increase in 2014 and another $11 million in 2015. Customers— as well as some of the public officials who represent them — have been outraged.

  Ojai residents have asked a local agency, the Casitas Municipal Water District, to use the power of eminent domain to buy out the water company and take over service.

• Golden State Water Co. fined $1 million

  Golden State Water Co. fined $1 million

  The California Public Utilities Commission last week fined Golden State Water Co. $1 million and ordered it to refund $9.5 million to its customers.

  Golden State Water has customers in Los Osos, Edna Valley and Nipomo. However, customers in those areas will see little in the way of refunds.

  Of the $9.5 million to be refunded, only $34,000 will go to customers in the Los Osos service area, which includes Edna Valley. The Santa Maria service area, which includes Nipomo, will receive $192,500 in refunds.

• Letters to the Editor 12/7

  Letters to the Editor 12/7

  Do business locally

  There was an optimistic indication of economic recovery at the recent Central Coast Economic Forecast, one that makes the “Buy Local” message we hear often particularly relevant.

  The real message is that if you support local businesses, you support your community. Several studies show that buying local helps independent businesses. Every dollar you spend here in San Luis Obispo County is going to other people who spend their dollars here. It creates a sustainable and independent economy.

• Residents get new rates for water use

  Residents get new rates for water use

  Water customers in Atascadero will see their monthly bills increase this week by an average of 7.5 percent. The Atascadero Mutual Water Company’s Board of Directors earlier this month adopted water rate hikes that include a surcharge for the Nacimiento Water Project after a previous funding plan fell through.

  Under the new rates, which went into effect Wednesday, the monthly water bill for an average single-family residential customer will increase from $44.45 to $48.15 per month while an average business user’s bill will increase from $54.99 to $56.68. An average single-family residence uses 11,000 gallons of water per month, while an average business uses 19,000 gallons, according to the utility. Tiers in the rate system encourage conservation, so those who use more water pay more.

  Increases for all users, minus fire connections, include a $2.50 surcharge per meter that the utility’s Board of Directors also approved to help fund the community’s share in the Nacimiento pipeline.