June 14, 2012 Evan Jacobs
For Immediate Release Office: 916-568-4252
Mobile: 707-495-6135
Evan.Jacobs@amwater.com NEW RATES APPROVED FOR CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER CUSTOMERSIncrease cover increases in operating costs and new capital projects
SACRAMENTO, Calif (June 14, 2012) -- The
California Public Utilities Commission approved new rates for
California American Water customers in its Sacramento
District. Customers will receive notifications of how this
increase will impact their bills. The increase will be
distributed based on consumption levels and meter size.
"These rates are the product of open public proceedings that
examined and deliberated every aspect and financial detail of
our original rate request over the course of the last two
years," said Andy Soulé, California American Water's Northern
Division general manager. "The additional revenue generated
from the these new rates will address the structural needs of
our water system while mitigating as much as possible the
financial impact to our customers. We made every effort to
minimize costs in all of our projects and operations while
honoring our obligation
to provide our customers with the highest level of water
quality and service that they expect."
The new rates are expected to bring in around $6.,3 million
in additional revenue to fund new infrastructure projects and
improvements in the company's Sacramento-area water systems
and to offset increases in purchased water, operational and
maintenance costs through the end of
2014. The decision also approves the hiring of three new
workers in our customer service, meter reading and production
departments. The decision increases California American
Water's total annual revenue in Sacramento to nearly $49
million and will increase rates by about 15 percent from
current levels.
"A metered customer using about 11,000 gallons a month will
see their bill increase by about 21 cents per day," Soulé
said. "It's worth noting that despite this increase, our
water is still a great value at about two gallons per penny."
PRESS RELEASE www.californiaamwater.com
NEW RATES FOR CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER CUSTOMERS
Some of the major infrastructure projects that these rates
will help fund within the Sacramento
County service district include:
• More than $9 million for main replacements and fire flow protection improvements.
• More than $2 million to replace and upgrade some of the district's aging wells.
• More than $6 million in other system and water treatment improvements.
These investments are in addition to the company's ongoing
expenditures to replace water lines, meters, hydrants and
upgrade pumping and storage facilities to maintain water
service, reliability, efficiency and quality throughout
Sacramento.
To help customers use water wisely, the company has received
authorization to continue a variety of conservation programs
and rebates. The program includes offering low-flow
showerhead and hose nozzles, sink aerators, leak detection
kits and many other types of water- saving devices to all
customers free of charge. The company also offers sizeable
rebates for qualified water-efficient appliances like clothes
washers and low-flow toilets as well as water efficient
landscaping.
California American Water also offers all of its Sacramento
customers a free home or business water use survey, where,
upon request, the company will dispatch a conservation
specialist to the customer's home to look for leaks and
recommend other areas of water savings. These surveys can
help you reduce your water use and your water bill.
For low-income customers, the company proudly offers "H20
Help to Others," a program designed to assist those
experiencing financial difficulties in paying their water
bill. Customers who qualify for the PG&E Care program will
qualify for the "H20 Help to Others" program. Find out more
by calling (888) 237-1333, or stopping by the local
Sacramento office at 4701 Beloit Drive, Sacramento, CA
95838.
"We are here to work with all our customers through this rate
adjustment, for which we have an array of programs and
services," Soulé said. "We want to ensure that everyone is
provided support in their efforts to conserve water and to
assist those who might be struggling financially."
PRESS RELEASE www.californiaamwater.com
NEW RATES FOR CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER CUSTOMERS
California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of
American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and
reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately
600,000 people.
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly
traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With
headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs
approximately
7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water,
wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15
million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada.
More
information can be found by visiting
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PRESS RELEASE www.californiaamwater.com
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