We urge the Town Council to side with the Residential Utility Consumer Office at Thursday evening’s meeting and get behind an attempt to reconsider various aspects of the recent rate hike given to Chaparral City Water Co.

RUCO was turned down on its initial request, but the issue may be appealed in a court setting.

In a previous ruling, the Arizona Corporation Commission essentially granted CCWC – which is owned by EPCOR – a residential rate hike of approximately 18 percent. To rub salt into the inflationary wound, a “miscalculation” discovered later allowed the rate to go up even more. The average residential homeowner is now paying at least $8 more a month on their water bills.

In approving the significant rate hike, the ACC seemed to deviate quite a bit from its own staff and especially RUCO recommendations, specifically in the areas of capital infrastructure, a Central Arizona Project surcharge and a system improvement benefits package.

Attorneys for the town followed RUCO’s lead by seeking a rehearing as well, issuing this statement, “The town believes the commission’s decision disproportionately favors CCWC’s interest in earning a profit over the customers’ interest in affordable utility service.”

We understand that companies regulated by the ACC, for example, are allowed to recoup expenses and earn a certain amount of profit. However, this latest increase seems excessive when examined through the eyes of a typical homeowner, especially when the commission deviated so much from other recommendations provided it.