As you may be aware, we have a private water company here at Panske House. We are with in the county limits, and less than a mile from the City, but some how this places us under a private company. This also means that we get well water instead of the excellent river water that most of the City gets. Well water that may or may not have exciting exotic chemicals in it. (thanks AreoJet!)
Our water company, California American Water, wants to raise rates a little bit for next year... a mere 40.3%. This is on top of last year's increase of 24.3%. (next year projected at 22.8%). If I am calculating this right, that means something like a bill of 210% of the bill the year we bought the house. Fortunately, local area customers, and the PUC's independent Division of Ratepayers Advocates, disagree with this increase.
Anyway, hopefully the rate hike is mitigated somewhat, since our new car, and young Master House are somewhat crimping on the budget. Further, it seems that utility costs should not increase in a time when raises and inflation are correspondingly non-existent.
Coming soon: a rant about water meter installation, what happens when your house has 60 year old utility maps, and what happens when your water main is in the backyard.
That is a real bummer. What to do with "free" markets when the commodity is naturally monopolistic...?
ReplyDeleteThat totally sucks ... and I know exactly how you feel. Our property taxes in Baltimore city have gone up 50% or more for the last three years in a row. It makes me so mad!! I hope you have some luck with the appeal.
ReplyDeleteIts an interesting blog.Want to see more blogs on it.
ReplyDelete