Click to Enlarge
The California Public Utilities Commission will be holding a couple public hearing this Thursday, February 5th, at Claremont's Hughes Center. The City is encouraging residents to attend and to voice objections to the the planned rate hike being sought by our water provider, Golden State Water.
The city's website includes a link to a list of talking points they feel are especially important. Here's the information the City has posted:
California Public Utilities Commission Seeks Public Participation and Request for Public Comment
The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) will be holding two public hearings regarding Golden State Water Company's (GSWC) formal application for a rate increase. The hearings will be held in the Padua Room at the Alexander Hughes Center, located at 1700 Danbury Road, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2009.
The City of Claremont believes that GSWC has not provided a compelling reason why an interim rate relief is merited, and the City, as a substantial ratepayer, deserves the benefit of a full Commission process before any rate increases are imposed.
The CPUC is seeking public comment on this formal application by GSWC. As part of its decision-making process, the CPUC is interested in your comments on any aspect of the company's operation including proposed rates, service quality or any other issue of concern.
Claremont residents are strongly encouraged to attend one of these hearings. The Public Participation Hearing provides the public an opportunity to provide comment on any portion of Golden State Water Company's Application before a CPUC Administrative Law Judge.
Here is a list of some talking points to assist you when speaking to the CPUC:
- The Proposed overall rate increase is more than 35% higher than current rates.
- Overall rate increase is unreasonable in the current state of the economy, with people losing jobs, facing foreclosure and not being able to afford higher utility bills.
- Wrightwood Pipeline being built in another town located far from Claremont: Because of regionalized rate structure, citizens of Claremont will subsidize pipeline project through their rates, but receive no benefit from it.
- GSWC is not establishing the required connection between the cost of the proposed conservation measures and the benefit/savings to local communities. Citizens care deeply about conservation, but want to see conservation measures implemented properly and effectively.
- Return on investment sought by GSWC is unreasonable in this economic climate. GSWC shouldn't be making a higher profit, when other business and citizens are merely trying to stay afloat.
For a copy of the talking points, click on the link below.
Claremont residents are also encouraged to immediately e-mail/write to the Public Utilities Commission to protest Golden State Water's interim rate increase:
Email: public.advisor.la@cpuc.ca.gov
Send correspondence to:
CPUC's Public Advisor's Office
320 West 4th Street, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Here's a link to the City of Claremont talking points
Posts
