Barstow water rate increase gets tentative approval
CPUC makes final decision in December
BARSTOW • An increase to Barstow’s water rates has been tentatively authorized by an administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission. The CPUC is expected to make its final decision on the rate increase in December.
Administrative Law Judge Linda Rochester of the CPUC proposed a rate increase of 27.9 percent, beginning Jan. 1, for Region III of the Golden State Water Company, which includes Barstow. The judge’s decision was made Nov. 17.
The water company and other official parties in the General Rate Case have until Dec. 7 to comment on the proposed decision, according to Perry Dahlstrom, district manager for the company’s mountain and desert district. Parties will then be given five days to reply to comments filed.
According to Dahlstrom, after the CPUC reviews the comments they can vote on the proposed decision as-is, make changes and vote on a revised plan or consider an alternate decision proposed by another commissioner. A final decision could be reached as early as Dec. 17, he said.
“The proposed increase would cover increases in the cost to operate and maintain the local water system, and fund capital investments,” Dahlstrom wrote in an e-mail Friday.
In Barstow, the rate increases would fund the relocation of pipelines in conjunction with street repair projects, Dahlstrom said.
In July 2008, the water company applied for a 32.67 percent increase to Region III water rates in 2010 along with a 1.69 percent increase in 2011 and a 3.2 percent increase in 2012. The proposed rate increase drew protests from a handful of cities including Apple Valley, which became an official party in the General Rate Case. Public hearings were also held early this year, including one in Barstow. According to a draft copy of the judge’s decision, many people were concerned about the rate increases given the current economic climate.
Even though it’s too late for people to become an official party in the General Rate Case, Dahlstrom said people can still contact the CPUC to comment. To comment, contact the Public Advisor’s office at 866-849-8390 or send an e-mail to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov.
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com
