Some customers are balking at the latest water rate hikes from the Central Basin Municipal Water District and demanding to know why they’re getting charged as much as double the current fees. But the information about the exact amount they are being charged is in question.
A representative for the Central Basin says news reports and assertions by city officials over the last two months have been incorrect. They were based on figures from other agencies, Central Basin spokesperson Valerie Howard said Wednesday.
At an Aug. 18 council meeting, Commerce staff reported that the Central Basin’s administrative surcharge had increased from $44 to $62 in July, and would go up to $72 on Jan 1, 2010, and $92 on July 1, 2010. The same increases were also reported in newspaper accounts.