Water company to look at raising rates 

Current shareholders pay some of the lowest water rates in the county

Proposed increase stems from city’s reduction of water usage

–At its meeting on Feb. 10, the Atascadero Mutual Water Company Board of Directors will be continuing its discussion on the need to increase water revenue by as much as 15-percent. The increase is needed to offset the reduction in revenue resulting from AMWC’s compliance with the Governor’s executive order mandating AWMC to reduce water consumption by 28-percent, according to the company. The governor recently extended the conservation mandate through October 2016. A final decision on the rate increase is expected to occur in April 2016.

In addition to reduced water sales revenue, the company says it has and will incur significant additional costs to comply with the new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act legislation, comply with the expanded National Pollution Discharge Elimination System requirements for potable water, and continue its defense in the Steinbeck quiet title action.

Current shareholders pay some of the lowest water rates in the county. The current rates were adopted in April 2012.

About the author: News Staff

News staff of the A-Town Daily News wrote and edited this article from local contributors and press releases. Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Connect with him on Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog. He can be reached at [email protected].