WRATES ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Updated 11/11/17
As we move along in our day to day battle with lowering our water rates, it is easy to forget about the WRATES victories. Although our water rates are still outrageous, they would be even more outrageous if it weren’t for our victories. Here’s a recap:
1. WRATES successfully stopped Advice Letter 501 which would have gone into effect March 2017 and increased our rates another 3.65%.
2. WRATES had several meetings with SCVWD staff and board members and we successfully convinced them to reduce their proposed wholesale rate increase for July, 2017 which saved us another 2.9% increase.
3. WRATES successfully stopped Advice Letter 512 which saved the ratepayer another $11.5 million in increases which would have been effective Oct, 2017.
4. WRATES presented our finding at the Formal Complaint hearing at the CPUC in San Francisco. We successfully suspended the complaint (and corresponding advice letter 510) to have it reviewed by the Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division (CPED). I have been in regular contact with them, providing additional billing issues. The CPED will be submitting their proposal, hopefully soon, to the commission for a vote to open a full Order Instituting Investigation in SJWC.
5. WRATES met with almost every council member of San Jose (sometimes twice) to get "Action Against SJWC" on their Agenda. We were successful and the SJ council voted unanimously on Oct. 24, 2017 to take action against SJWC and advocate for the ratepayer. That is why Mayor Liccardo and CM Rocha spoke at the hearing on Monday. We also reached out to all surrounding city councilmembers to attend and speak. That is why council members from Monte Sereno and Cupertino spoke.
6. WRATES is in contact with other cities throughout California to take part in a statewide coalition to promote CPUC reform legislation. Click on COALITION for latest information.
1. WRATES successfully stopped Advice Letter 501 which would have gone into effect March 2017 and increased our rates another 3.65%.
2. WRATES had several meetings with SCVWD staff and board members and we successfully convinced them to reduce their proposed wholesale rate increase for July, 2017 which saved us another 2.9% increase.
3. WRATES successfully stopped Advice Letter 512 which saved the ratepayer another $11.5 million in increases which would have been effective Oct, 2017.
4. WRATES presented our finding at the Formal Complaint hearing at the CPUC in San Francisco. We successfully suspended the complaint (and corresponding advice letter 510) to have it reviewed by the Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division (CPED). I have been in regular contact with them, providing additional billing issues. The CPED will be submitting their proposal, hopefully soon, to the commission for a vote to open a full Order Instituting Investigation in SJWC.
5. WRATES met with almost every council member of San Jose (sometimes twice) to get "Action Against SJWC" on their Agenda. We were successful and the SJ council voted unanimously on Oct. 24, 2017 to take action against SJWC and advocate for the ratepayer. That is why Mayor Liccardo and CM Rocha spoke at the hearing on Monday. We also reached out to all surrounding city councilmembers to attend and speak. That is why council members from Monte Sereno and Cupertino spoke.
6. WRATES is in contact with other cities throughout California to take part in a statewide coalition to promote CPUC reform legislation. Click on COALITION for latest information.