Hearings Monday on Plan to Raise Water Rates

The state Public Utilities Commission will conduct hearings Monday in San Marino and Duarte on an application by California-American Water Co. to raise rates over the next three years, beginning with increases this year of more than 11% in Duarte and 27% in San Marino.

The hearings will be conducted by John C. Gilman, an administrative law judge, at 2 p.m. at San Marino City Hall and 7 p.m. at the Duarte Town Center.

California-American serves 6,895 homes, businesses and other water users in Duarte. It is seeking increases that would raise the average residential bill, for 2,037 cubic feet of water a month, from the current $21.13 to $25.26 by 1991.

The company has 13,758 water connections in San Marino and parts of San Gabriel, Rosemead, Temple City and El Monte. For the average residential customer in this service area, who uses 2,575 cubic feet of water a month, the company is asking for a rate increase from the current $19.48 to $27.73 by 1991.

Susan McInnis, community relations manager for California-American, said the company needs the increase to offset rising expenses and improve the system.

For example, California-American has proposed replacing a water tank in Rosemead, damaged by the Whittier earthquake in 1987, with a new reservoir in San Marino at a cost of more than $2 million. The PUC staff has recommended against the reservoir, saying that the tank could be repaired and that, in any event, the cost should be paid through the company’s earthquake insurance, not through increased water rates.

After the PUC takes testimony from customers Monday, it will take testimony Tuesday in the Inglewood Public Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd., from its staff and the company on rate increases in Baldwin Hills as well as in Duarte and San Marino.