Golden State Wants 44 Percent Rate Hike

Updated 2/15: The Ojai City Council meeting Tuesday night was filled with people protesting Golden State Water Company's proposed 43.9 water rate hike. Opponents argue customers of the former Southern California Water Company already pay much higher rates than their neighbors for substandard service. The council has filed a formal protest with the water provider, and wants a hearing with the California Public Utilities Commission to be held in Ojai, not San Francisco.

From the OVN print edition 2/7/07
By Sondra Murphy
Golden State Water Company has applied to the Public Utilities Commission for a revenue increase in its Ojai service area. GSWC wants to raise additional $1,432,900 in 2008, which, according to PUC project manager Victor Chan, would mean an increase in customer rates of nearly 45 percent.
“An average customer will see about a $35.88 increase” each month, said Chan. Customers who currently pay around $100 each month to Golden State for water can expect the bill to jump to $145 in 2008, Chan estimated.
“Increased rates are sought by GSWD to improve water service to Ojai customers,” said Golden State district manager Warren Morgan. “Over the past five years $6,757,000 has been invested in replacement of aging infrastructure and other improvements to the Ojai system. We are proposing investing another $2,000,000 over the next three years. As with all water utilities if improvements aren’t made, the reliability of supply and dependable service could suffer.”