Water Firm Wins 9.3% Rate Increase

Water rates for 13,200 customers in portions of La Mirada, Norwalk and Cerritos will increase by an average of about $1.30 a month beginning in mid-February, the California Public Utilities Commission announced.

The state commission has approved an initial 9.3% rate increase for Suburban Water Systems, which serves most La Mirada residents. The water company also has requested additional increases totaling 6.6% over the next two years that will be considered by the commission later this year, said PUC spokeswoman Carole Kretzer.

The water agency had sought an initial increase of 22.2%. They first filed for the rate increase in May.

Officials of the La Mirada-based utility said inflation is the reason for the rate increase.

The monthly bill for a family of four using the monthly average of about 1,788 cubic feet of water now is about $16.73. With the 9.3% rate increase, the monthly bill will rise to about $18.