CEWR Addresses Local Supporters of Challenge to CLWSC's 71% Water Rate Hike.

Dec. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Spring Branch, Texas – On December 15th, the GVTC Community Center Auditorium in Spring Branch played host to over 180 Canyon Lake Water Service Company (CLWSC) ratepayers as they listened to representatives of the Coalition for Equitable Water Rates (CEWR) provide details of CEWR’s protest to CLWSC’s proposed 71% water rate increase. CLWSC (a wholly owned subsidiary of San Jose Water from San Jose, California) informed its customers earlier this year that it would implement a 38% increase in water rates in October, followed by another increase just 5 months later in March of 2011, totaling 71%.

Geoff Miller, President of CEWR, opened the public forum by introducing the Coalition’s steering committee and explaining the organization’s role in the water protest. “We are a single focus organization, formed solely for the purpose of challenging the exorbitant 71% rate request of CLWSC.” He continued to explain how the water rate increase will directly and indirectly impact area customers and non-customers alike. Mr. Miller then introduced CEWR’s invited guests, State Representative Doug Miller, County Commissioners Donna Eccleston and Jan Kennady. State Senator Jeff Wentworth was represented by his General Counsel, Ashley Storm.

The CEWR took the opportunity to inform attendees that as a direct result of petition signatures by over 25% of CLWSC’s ratepayers, it (CEWR) had been given official status as a party to the challenge by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Mr. Miller went on to detail the overall process required to present a challenge to a proposed water utility rate increase through the TCEQ. The Coalition provided a status update to the very attentive audience, consisting of incensed, but orderly CLWSC customers. CEWR’s role in the challenge was explained, and detail provided as to what measures the Coalition was taking to insure adequate representation of those customers wishing to protest the increases. The monetary aspects of the challenge were detailed, with CEWR indicating that it had well over 1/3 of the contributions it felt would be required for a serious challenge to CLWSC’s (SJW) massive rate hike. The Coalition indicated it had retained the services of a water rate consultant as well as an attorney in order to proceed.

The CEWR announced that the TCEQ has set a preliminary hearing date of January 5th for involved parties to argue their cases, and that CEWR has filed paperwork with the TCEQ to formally request a delay in the increases as well as implementation of reduced interim rates while the case is pending.

The Coalition (and its guests) took numerous questions from the audience asking what they could do to help, and how can such excesses be prevented in the future. CEWR indicated that they would be conducting membership and letter writing campaigns to garner the requisite attention of such a critical issue. The CEWR intends to hold CLWSC accountable to its customers for explaining the vast inequity in water rates with other utilities in the County and State.

State Representative Doug Miller spoke to the attendees and expressed his support for their concerns and interest in their comments. His experience with the Edwards Aquifer provides Representative Miller with unique insight as to the operations of the TCEQ and water utilities throughout the State. County Commissioners Jan Kennady and Donna Eccleston addressed the audience and expressed support for the challenge and indicated they were already hearing from their constituents in the county. Ms. Kennady was especially complimentary on the CEWR’s professional handling of the situation. Ashley Storm briefly spoke to the group and stated that she had already seen protest letters in Senator Wentworth’s mail that were clearly generated from CEWR’s website.

In closing, the Coalition stressed the need to contact elected officials in order to be heard regarding one’s stance on the rate increases. CEWR’s website was provided as a source for all such contact information and sample letters for local and State officials. Opportunities for making donations and provision of the latest updates can all be found at WWW.CEWR.NET.  The website affords those interested to sign up as CEWR members to get the latest information regarding the water rate challenge, or to get answers to any of their questions. Those interested can also call the Coalitions feedback line at 830-542-WATR (9287).

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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.