14% Kent County Water increase `too much,' says mayor

By John Howell
Posted 12/8/16

By JOHN HOWELL With Warwick customers of the Kent County Water Authority already paying nearly twice what Warwick Water Division customers pay, the city objected yesterday to Kent County's request for rate increases that would boost bills by more than 14

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14% Kent County Water increase `too much,' says mayor

Posted

With Warwick customers of the Kent County Water Authority already paying nearly twice what Warwick Water Division customers pay, the city objected yesterday to Kent County’s request for rate increases that would boost bills by more than 14 percent starting in January.

“What else is new?” Timothy Brown, general manager of Kent, said yesterday when informed the city would object. City Solicitor Peter Ruggiero appeared before the Public Utilities Commission Wednesday to argue the increases are excessive.

Noting the disparity between what customers of Warwick Water and Kent Water pay, Avedisian said Tuesday that the proposed rate hike would unfairly burden residents as well as the city. The city pays Kent for hydrants within their Warwick service area, which includes most of Cowesett, West Natick and most of Apponaug. He questioned if hydrants are properly maintained and flushed, saying the requested hydrant increase of 30 percent would cost the city an additional $15,000 a year.

Brown said the rate increases are critical to implementing a new meter reading system for 24,000 customers at a projected cost of $6.6 million. Portions of the current system, he said, are 20 years old and replacing the system with radio-controlled readers would enable the agency to read all its customers within a day and a half, giving it the capability of monthly billing should it choose. Under the existing reading system, it takes personnel three weeks to read only a third of its customers.

According to the settlement agreement accepted Tuesday by the Public Utilities Division, the first round of increases would raise an additional $2.78 million a year. An additional rate hike of 4.77 percent would kick in Jan 1, 2018 to raise about $1 million more.

In a release, the mayor said the city “was not a party to the negotiations on the terms and conditions of the draft settlement agreement.”

His statement goes on to read, “While expenses must necessarily increase from year to year, the amount of expense and revenue increases in the short period of time contained in the draft settlement agreement constitutes unacceptable public agency budgeting and, in my opinion, poor public policy.”

As of Wednesday morning, Warwick was the only objector. Other parties are the Town of Coventry, Coventry Fire District and Central Coventry Fire District, which, like Warwick, were interveners in the original rate application filed on April 7.

Avedisian said he finds the terms and conditions of the draft settlement “unfair and unreasonable.”

“The persons and businesses located in Warwick and served by the KCWA would have to absorb these rate increases in too short a period of time,” he said.

The Public Utilities Commission is expected to render a decision at its public meeting Dec. 20.

Brown could not see a way of applying the rate increase to all KCWA customers other than those living in Warwick.

What would happen if the increase is denied by the PUC?

“The decision will be whatever it is,” he said.

Daniel O’Rourke said the average water bill for a Warwick customer using 74,800 gallons yearly is $330.62. This compares to about $525.40 for the same amount of water from KCWA. In addition, KCWA has a quarterly surcharge of $10.26 for a 5/8 to wo-inch service.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    Here's an idea that I have stated repeatedly.

    There are over one thousand Warwick customers that owe over a thousand dollars EACH on their water bills. Now that the election is over and the Mayor doesn't have to worry about losing their votes, why doesn't Warwick collect! (that is over a million dollars!) And while we are at it, why doesn't Warwick collect from the thousands of delinquent customers that owe a little LESS THAN A THOUSAND dollars as well. Now that the Mayor doesn't need them to put a sign on their businesses (even though it labels their business as a Republican establishment) why doesn't Warwick collect. That would lessen the need to overcharge the rest of the taxpayers.

    The election is over. The bills are due. Avedisian is claiming that the rate hike will "unfairly burden residents", yet in the next statement he says he "wasn't party to the negotiations." Why wasn't he?

    Why wasn't he?

    WHY WASN'T HE?

    Here is what is going to happen next in my opinion. The rate hike will go into effect. Avedisian will take no accountability or responsibility for it and the 80,000 Warwick citizens will get overcharged AGAIN! Damn it !!!

    To the 13,278 good people who voted for me, I'm sorry I let you down, although I am exceptionally proud of running the longest and one of the cleanest campaigns in Warwick history. (We accepted ZERO political action committee checks. Avedisian accepted 237 checks according to the Board of Elections) I would be wholly responsible to you, the taxpayer, and I would have as much influence over this issue as the law allowed. I would take part in the negotiotions as much as the law allowed. The bills wouldn't increase a penny more than is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

    The career politician had 237 political action committees backing him. Now he needs to be accountable to them, all the while stating he "was not a party to the negotiations".

    In the meantime Avedisian will say politically-appropriate things that sound good, claiming he sees the findings as "unfair and unreasonable", but in the end he will do nothing to stop the rate increase. Stay tuned to the 2018 elections. 80,000 Warwick taxpayers need a voice and having13,278 supporters is a great start!

    Merry Christmas everyone. See you soon.

    Rick Corrente

    Thursday, December 8, 2016 Report this

  • Biggameatball

    Why raise the rate? Charge each of the 24k customers $275 to bring in the 6.6 million needed. Spread the payments out over 2 years and that would only be an additional $34.38 per quarter. Or, tell the "personnel" to show a sense of urgency on behalf of customers and get the readings done quicker. No to rate hikes, however I wouldn't be opposed to 8 payments spread out over 2 years.

    Thursday, December 8, 2016 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Perhaps the time has come where the City of Warwick provides water to all of its residents for the same rate. 2 rates for citizens of the same city is wrong.

    Friday, December 9, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear PaulHuff,

    Please elaborate.

    I agree with you completely but I think the readers need more of an explanation.

    Thanks.

    Merry Christmas.

    Rick Corrente

    Friday, December 9, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Here's another idea. As far as the people with overdue taxes, why not have the people in this city pay their overdue property taxes and not allow them to live as squatters in a home that they haven't paid the mortgage or taxes on in several years. I don't understand how you can be delinquent with property taxes and mortgage payments but during the same time period, loan a political campaign tens of thousands of dollars. How does that happen? I thought everyone was obligated to pay their property taxes to help pay for schools, police , fire, trash removal etc...?? If there are people who are living without paying those taxes, should we not pick up their trash, not send a fire truck etc..??? Seems a bit disingenuous.

    Friday, December 9, 2016 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Captain, Rick hasn't even acknowledged his tax problems. I find this more troubling than any of the nonsense he was proposing in the campaign. After being blown out in the election, I wonder what alternate universe one would have to live on to get up everyday and continue this same ridiculous campaign speak. Disingenuous is the right word. Rick keep commenting, I will be here to call you out on your delinquent taxes EVERY TIME!!!!

    Friday, December 9, 2016 Report this

  • Reality

    I couldn't agree more with the previous posts. Anyone who fails to pay their property taxes on time should not be allowed to comment on city issues. They have no credibility.

    Imagine if we all adopted the same cavalier attitude to our obligations. The city would be in tatters.

    I go one step further.....the city council should pass an ordinance.....anyone who doesn't pay their taxes in a timely manner shouldn't be allowed to run for office. It's that simple.

    Friday, December 9, 2016 Report this