Water rate hikes sought for Visalia, Selma

California Water Service Co., which operates the municipal water services in Visalia and Selma, is applying to the California Public Utilities Commission to boost the rates it charges for water in communities across the state.

In Visalia, Cal Water proposes to raise its rates to make improvements to its water system, including replacing more than 33,000 feet of water mains, replacing aging water meters, upgrading computer systems and software, replacing electrical equipment in a pump station, and replacing flow meters and valves at seven pump stations.

If the rates are ultimately approved by the PUC, Cal Water estimates that the typical bill for a residential customer with metered service would rise by $5.05 per month in 2017, 80 cents more per month in 2018, and another 94 cents per month in 2019. Across all customer categories, the rate increase would add up to an extra $7.2 million in revenue in 2017, or 26.9% above 2016 rates. The 2018 increase would raise $544,000 more, with an extra $160,000 in 2019.

In Selma, the total revenue increase from the proposed rate hike would be more than $1.2 million in 2017, $141,000 in 2018, and $138,000 in 2019. The typical residential metered bill would go up by $17 per month in 2017, $2 per month in 2018 and $1 per month in 2019.

Across all 25 of its operating districts, Cal Water is asking the PUC to approve revenue increases amounting to $94.8 million in 2017, $22.9 million in 2018 and $22.6 million in 2019.

The PUC’s 18-month rate-review process will include accepting public comments and hearings; the commission could approve Cal Water’s application or adopt a different rate structure. The rate application can be viewed online.

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Water rate hikes sought for Visalia, Selma."