CLWSC Water Not So Transparent

Canyon Lake Water Service Company and San Jose Water (CLWSC) continue to frustrate the goals of the Coalition for Equitable Water Rates (CEWR) and the Texas regulatory process by suddenly modifying data submitted in its original application filing.
 
June 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Canyon Lake Water Service Company and San Jose Water (CLWSC) continue to frustrate the goals of the Coalition for Equitable Water Rates (CEWR) and the Texas regulatory process by suddenly modifying data submitted in its original application filing. In a very unusual move, CLWSC suddenly changed information in its original filing without providing good cause for the changes. CEWR and its attorney, Shari Heino, with Mathews & Freeland L.L.P., challenged CLWSC’s actions by filing a motion on May 31st, stating that CLWSC’s actions are equivalent to a “shell-game.”  CEWR also argued that Canyon Lake Water should not be allowed to offer documents containing altered data as evidence in the case.  

Under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules, a utility must be prepared to go to hearing on the information provided in its original application. On June 8th, the presiding judge acknowledged the water coalition’s significant concerns and ruled to suspend the case until CLWSC can provide good cause for the changes. CEWR does not believe that CLWSC has good cause for the alterations.

This conflict is the latest in a series of disputes over data availability. CEWR had finally received the bulk of the application’s supporting papers in late April after a motion to compel and additional resistance on the part of CLWSC.  A month later, after CEWR incurred significant costs reviewing the data provided, CLWSC has now attempted to render those documents meaningless. Yet, CLWSC has not claimed that the application provided wrong information in true need of correction, merely different information.

“Canyon Lake Water has now changed the data that was previously submitted and analyzed at significant cost to the members of CEWR and its contributors. They (CLWSC) have spent approximately $300,000 on the rate case thus far.  So far, we have spent about $50,000 and are fighting for you to keep your money. Feels a bit like a David and Goliath situation”, stated a CEWR spokesperson.  

CEWR has identified numerous issues with CLWSC’s filings that can be used to fight against the rate increases, but points out the need for continued funding support from donors. CEWR made an effort to contact most of CLWSC’s customers this week with a mass mailing request for support and donations, despite the fact that CLWSC continues to refuse to provide a list of customers affected by the increases. Funding is critical to ensure that CEWR can complete the proceedings and make the customers’ arguments heard before the State’s regulatory body.  

                                  Please Visit CEWR’s Website at http://www.cewr.net

Texas law allows water utilities to recover expenses from rate case challenges via billing surcharges. The utility ratepayer does not benefit from any such protection and does not have legal recourse to recoup its legal fees.

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The Coalition for Equitable Water Rates (CEWR) is a non-profit organization of local residents representing residential and business interests to insure that fair and competitive water rates are provided by the Canyon Lake Water Service Company.
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