Water company gets 26 percent rate hike

The Community Water Co. of Green Valley on Tuesday was granted a 26.27 percent rate increase by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

The commission voted 5-0 in Phoenix to approve the recommendations of an administrative law judge and directed the water company to pursue water conservation through best management practices.

The new rates go into effect in March, company president Arturo Gabaldon said, and they include a stiffer rate hike for homeowners who use a high volume of water.

Locally, Farmers Water Co. has requested ACC approval for a 35 percent rate hike and Sahuarita Water Co., which serves Rancho Sahuarita, asked for a 63 percent hike for homeowners and a lower increase for commercial customers for an overall 52.5 percent revenue increase.

A public comment session on the Sahuarita Water Co. increase is set for 6-8 p.m. March 11 at the Sahuarita Town Hall chamber, 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way.

Community Water originally proposed an across-the-board increase of 33 percent, then reduced it to 26.58 percent because its electricity expenses were reduced. ACC staff recommended the 26.27 percent average increase with higher rates for larger users and a lesser increase for smaller users.

Community Water Co. is a member-owned, non-profit water utility serving about 18,000 people in Green Valley and Sahuarita and delivering an average of 2.1 million gallons of water per day.

The service area is about eight square miles roughly between Anamax Road to the north, the Santa Cruz River to the east, Cyprus Sierrita to the west, and Mission Twin Buttes Road to the south.

pfranchine@gvnews.com | 547-9738