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“Last
month our water bill went up about $10 and we used less water
– we had gone to Alaska for a month,” said Larry Testone, a customer
who attended the rally. Testone said he wasn’t notified of a rate
increase.
Lori
Biondo, another protestor, said her water bill increased $10‑$15
last month without notice. She added that her electric bill has
also increased because she is forced to run her dishwasher and
other appliances during peak hours.
DHW
vice president Mary Beth Rowland said her company has not increased
its rates and any increase in water bills is due to an increase
in usage.
Rowland
admits there have been outages, but blames those outages on
the inability of Cave Creek Water Co., owned by Phoenix‑based
Global Water Resources, to adequately serve Desert Hills during
certain morning hours due to pressure problems on Cave Creek’s
side of the connecting system.
Global
spokesman Paul Walker said the outages are caused by DHW’s inability
to accommodate demand.
“She
(DHW) has exceeded her capacity to a greater extent than before,”
Walker stated.
Cave
Creek Water Co., about 11 years ago, entered into an emergency
services contract with Rowland’s company to provide DHW customers
when needed, but that agreement expired one year ago, according
to Walker. However, Cave Creek Water/ Global continues to supply
water to Desert Hills, when possible.
Walker
pointed out that Cave Creek Water Co. is limited as to how much
water they can provide
to Desert Hills because it is required to maintain water pressure
for its customers first and foremost.
Rowland
has repeatedly stated her company plans to build a booster station
between 12th and
14th streets south of Cloud Road which will fully restore water
service to the immediate area, although she cannot say when
that pumping station will be completed.
The
Arizona Corporation Commission is slated on Aug. 21 to hold
an evidentiary hearing to
determine whether Desert Hills Water Co. has violated state
regulations.
Reach
the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.
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