OAWC INCREASE - LATEST REPORTS- (7-29-09)

"Stipulation and Recommendation"

The “Stipulation and Recommendation” has been entered into the PUCO docket information case no. 07-1112-WS-AIR regarding Ohio American Water rate increase application on September 4, 2008. The stipulation is not binding upon the Commission. The stipulation is a documentation that represents a cooperative effort among the parties petitioned to this case. The PUCO Commissioners must approve this “Stipulation and Recommendation” before it becomes official.

To briefly summarize the 52-page entry, the entry outlines a proposed monthly customer charge of $9.51 per month for a 5/8” meter; $9.41 is our current charge--an increase of $.10 a month. Water consumption charge for basic water service for the first 13.33 ccf will be increased to $5.0449 per ccf. Currently we are paying $3.2074 per ccf--a increase of $1.8375 per ccf.

Sewer consumption charge: The first 13.33 cubic feet increased to $8.2600 per ccf; our current charge for wastewater is $6.0173 per ccf--an increase of $2.2427 per ccf.

Reverse osmosis charge will be $1.19220 per ccf; our current charge for reverse osmosis is $1.325 per ccf. This will be a decrease of $.1328 per ccf.

This is an increase for Franklin County of 30.37% increase for water and a 36.94% increase for wastewater under this “Stipulation and Recommendation.”

In November 2007, Ohio American Water applied for a rate increase asking for an increase of 36.8% on wastewater and a 26.81% increase for water. Please note the “Stipulation and Recommendation” percentages are higher than what Ohio American Water originally asked for.

Huber Ridge water treatment plant customers were exclusively mentioned in this “Stipulation and Recommentation.” To summarize: it is no different than the previous rate increase that improved the water quality but did not resolve all of the issues. In my opinion, repeating the same measure is no fix. This recommendation allows the OAWC to sample the water quality at the plant’s service tap; this does account for any infrastructure (lines) problems in our community that may be causing our quality concerns.

To review this entire 52-page report, you can double-click on our PUCO link under “Community Links.” Enter 07-1112-WS-AIR in the Docket Information block on the PUCO website. From there, you can view everything!

The PUCO Commissioners still must approve this “Stipulation and Recommendation.” This allows us some brief time to write the PUCO and Governor Ted Strickland asking to deny the “Stipulation and Recommendation” and asking for accountability now!

Honorable Ted Strickland PUCO
Governor’s Office Attention: Docketing Division
Riffe Center, 30th Floor 180 East Broad Street
77 South High Street Columbus, OH 43215
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

RE PUCO Case#: 07-1112-WS-AIR RE PUCO Case#: 07-1112-WS-AIR

We need to act fast! Get your letters in now!

This is your community! We can and do make a difference!
--Jim Welch, HRAA President

SOME CASE HISTORY

It is official - the OAW WATER/SEWER RATE INCREASE request is listed Nov 13, 2007 under case number 07-1112-WS-AIR on the PUCO docket.

Also listed on the PUCO docket November 20, 2007, is the Ohio Consumers' Counsel motion to intervene on behalf of all residential utility consumers of the Ohio American Water Company.

The letter we received from OAW (approximately October 12, 2007)is for another rate increase. Our letter does not spell out just how much the rates will increase like the letter to the trustees and Jim Welch does.

In a letter to Jim Welch, President of HRAA, dated October 12, 2007, OAW outlines the newly proposed increase to "cover costs previously incurred. This is another request - not a statement of the last rate increase as some have thought.

"In October 2007, Ohio American Water will apply to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to increase its overall rate by 16.38%. The average water customer bill for 7 ccf used monthly would increase by 26.81%, or an additional $11.03 every month, or $0.37 per day. The average sewer customer bill for 7 ccf used monthly would increase by 36.80%, or an additional $15.50 every month, or $0.52 per day. The average combined water and sewer customer bill for 7 ccf used monthly would increase by 31.86%, or an additional $26.53 every month, or $0.86 per day.

Send Letters to PUCO/Governor Strickland

To effectively oppose this increase we(the OAWC customers)need to write the PUCO in opposition and attend the upcoming public forum. The more responses the PUCO receives, the better chance we have at making a difference and defeating this increase. Please - every resident needs to respond.

Honorable Ted Strickland
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

RE PUCO Case#: 07-1112-WS-AIR

Letters to the PUCO:

PUCO
Attention: Docketing Division
180 E. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215

RE PUCO Case#: 07-1112-WS-AIR

Write letters to your Ohio State House and Senate representatives that also ask for legislation to limit the time period between non-emergency requests by a water utility for rate increases to five years. More frequent requests are a burden to communities that have few resources to challenge rate increases and a waste of tax dollars when frequent rate hikes are requested.

Representative Jim McGregor
77 S. High St, 13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6002
Fax : (614) 719-6959
Email: district20@ohr.state.oh.us

Senator David Goodman
Senate Building
Room #039, Ground Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8064
Email: dgoodman@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

Email us
president@huberridge.org