Water rates going up in Visalia, Selma

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved rate increases for California Water Service customers in Visalia and Selma, the company said.

New water rates go into effect Jan. 1.

In Visalia, a residential customer using a typical amount of 14,212 gallons per month will see the water bill decrease by 3 cents per month in 2017, then increase by 51 cents per month in 2018 and by 94 cents per month the year after.

Cal Water serves about 43,100 connections in Visalia.

The commission also authorized Cal Water to invest $6.29 million in improvements in Visalia over the next three years, including replacement of an aging and high-risk water main, the company said.

In Selma, the typical residential customer using 16,456 gallons a month will see the water bill increase by $5.70 a month in 2017, and increase 4 cents per month in 2018 and 27 cents per month the year after.

The commission also authorized Cal Water to invest $1 million in improvements over three years. Cal Water serves about 6,300 connections in Selma.

Additionally, the commission allowed Cal Water to recover drought expenses from 2014-15 via a 12-month surcharge of about 2 cents for every 748 gallons in both Visalia and Selma.

This story was originally published December 19, 2016 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Water rates going up in Visalia, Selma."