EPCOR WATER USA INC. acquired Chaparral City Water Company in 2011 and now wants to increase water rates by a whopping 35 percent!

Since purchasing our home we have been plagued with high bills with no clear reason why.

We changed our appliances, toilets, irrigation system and pool levers to more efficient models and yet our water bills skyrocket. We hired a leak detection company to walk the property outside and inside and no leaks were detected. During the last billing cycle we registered usage of 60,000 gallons of water for a water bill of $245.74. The previous month’s bill was $210.30. We are a two-member household, and during this time there was only one person at the residence.

There have been several conversations between CCWC and me and it is always the same: “you need a new meter,” “you have a leak” and “you have to pay the bill.” I’ve had enough!

I attended the EPCOR presentation made to Town Council and I became even more upset when they outlined the reasons behind the increases. Some of the reasons are because of increased health care cost, a new telephone system, new tools, equipment and vehicles. They stated that it is more costly for water if the homes are further apart, and that because of the “hills” there are pressure zones that require more power to pump the water.

They are trying to recoup costs due to the lack of the previous owners’ lack of maintenance. They even declared that declining water use is reason for an increase. We are being punished because we conserve water! Why are these costs that must be passed onto the consumers?

If you feel as I do, contact me at detroit_michigan@cox.net. I have filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission as an “intervenor,” and you can do the same.

Go to www.azcc.gov, then go to “I want to file a complaint about my utility company,” then scroll down to “intervention” and then click on “motion to intervene.” Deadline is Nov. 1.