Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Southern California Category
Click here to view all posts

Palmdale Water District wins Round 1 of rate battle

Posted by: Maven on July 10, 2009 at 6:32 am

From the Antelope Valley Press:

A Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday in favor of the Palmdale Water District, refusing Palmdale’s request for a preliminary injunction on a recent water rate hike that adds from 65% to more than 140% to customers’ monthly bills.

Representing the city, attorney Mitchell Abbott argued that the rate increase, which took effect May 14, was not properly explained or presented to customers, leaving many confused even today, weeks after their water bills spiked. “We believe no person of average intelligence can take the notice they issued and understand what effect it is going to have on their rate,” Abbott said in court.

But Judge Conrad Aragon said in order for the court to intervene, he needed to hear more than opinions and interpretations. Aragon asked Abbott to demonstrate how the new formula is “fatally flawed.”

Abbott said the district’s formula for determining a customer’s rate is so complex the individual does not know how the new rate will change a water bill until it has already arrived in the mail. “It’s impossible to apply their formula to determine a rate until after the water has been used,” Abbott said. “It’s like the Oscars. ‘May I have the envelope, please’ – you open it and that’s your rate.”

Read more from the Antelope Valley Press by clicking here.

July 10, 2009 · Filed Under Southern California

Comments

Leave a Reply