Public Forum on Apple Valley Ranchos Water Rate Increase Request

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold remote public forums to provide an opportunity for customers of Liberty Utilities’ Apple Valley Ranchos Water Corp. and Park Water Corp. to offer their perspective and input to the CPUC about the company’s rate requests, as follows:

WHEN:

• Apple Valley Ranchos Water customers: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 2 p.m. AND 6 p.m.
• Park Water customers: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 2 p.m. AND 6 p.m.

WHERE: Remote access via webcast or phone for ALL public forums:

• Live video broadcast with English or Spanish captions via webcast: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc
  • Participants who choose to participate via webcast only will have audio and video, but will not be able to make verbal comment. If you would like to make comments during the meeting, refer to the phone-in information below.
  • For captions, after clicking on the name of the workshop, click the green button below the video for captions. Then select captions by clicking on the white icon next to the word “live” at the bottom of the video.
  • The forums will also be recorded and archived for future viewing.
• Phone (English): 800-857-1917, passcode: 6032788#
  • Participants will have audio (in English) and will be able to make comments.

Customers from all parts of Apple Valley Ranchos Water and Park Water service areas are encouraged to participate in the public forums.

In response to Governor Newsom’s directive concerning restrictions on public gatherings to protect customers and community members during COVID-19, these public forums (formally called Public Participation Hearings) will not have in-person attendance. Members of the public can view the public forums via the Internet, or listen and make comment by toll-free phone line. Those who would like to make public comment must participate by phone.

You can also make your voice heard in this proceeding, and read the comments of others, on our online Docket Card comment section at apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2107003.

The remote public forums will begin with a brief overview of Apple Valley Ranchos Water and Park Water’s requests, then public comments will be heard via phone.

On July 2, 2021, Liberty Utilities’ Apple Valley Ranchos Water Corp. and Park Water Corp. submitted General Rate Case applications requesting CPUC approval to increase rates for water service for 2022-2024. Liberty Apple Valley Ranchos Water is requesting to increase its rate charges for water service by $2,862,903 (or 11.11 percent) in 2022, $2,068,273 (or 7.18 percent) in 2023, and $2,280,637 (or 7.35 percent) in 2024. Liberty Park Water is requesting to increase its rate charges for water service by $5,475,273 (or 15.1 percent) in 2022, $1,820,970 (or 4.35 percent) in 2023, and $1,752,224 (or 4 percent) in 2024. According to the utility, main contributors to the rate increases include increased capital-related costs resulting from increased investments, increases in unit cost of production, anticipated inflationary increases, increases in payroll expense, and increases in health and welfare benefits.

The CPUC welcomes remote attendance and comment on Apple Valley Ranchos Water and Park Water’s requests at the public forums, as public comments will help the CPUC reach an informed decision. The Administrative Law Judge assigned to the proceeding is scheduled to issue a proposed decision in the case for CPUC Commissioner consideration within a year.

While a quorum of Commissioners and/or their staff may attend the remote access public forums, no official action will be taken on this matter.

If specialized accommodations are needed to attend, such as non-English or sign language interpreters, please contact the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s Office at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or toll-free at 866-849-8390 at least five business days in advance of the public forum.

Further information on public forums is available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph.

The Ruling setting the public forums is available at https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M429/K760/429760341.PDF.

Documents related to this proceeding are available at https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:56:0::NO:RP,57,RIR:P5_PROCEEDING_SELECT:A2107003.