Complaint Review: Del Oro Water Co. Magalia CA

So far Del Oro, after I've calmed down and been civil in my communications, will be looking into possible causes for the 248% increase to include damaged lines, defective meters, reading errors and/or a combination of the three. Personally I wouldn't want to deal with myself after I went off the rails as it were but they are nonetheless showing a desire to determine what is at the root of this matter.

Therefore I publicly apologize for my knee-jerk, hot-headed reaction to an astronomical bill that may have resulted from mechanical failures and / or human errors as I sense Del Oro is attempting to act in good faith to resolve the matter.

An email from a Del Oro rep stated that our water usage was up 284% from the previous month. This is impossible as our water habits have not changed. This leaves one of two possibilities or a combination of the two: a damaged line and / or defective meter. One would reasonably expect that a 284% jump in consumption would cause the utility to search for an anomaly rather than just bill on assumption.

I have asked that Del Oro look into these or other possible causes.

The golf course where we reside is owned by the same person who owns Del Oro Water. When the golf course closed he filed with the CPUC for a rate increase because of the loss of income from the golf course as a water customer. Wrap your brain around that for a moment.

As to the paranoia to which you allude this is a small community serviced by a small utility owned by a single individual. It is no stretch that this could be indeed retaliation for the prior CPUC complaint. 

Sir, if you are receiving the drought surcharge, it is because you have not met the state-mandated 24% reduction in water use. Please feel free to call us directly at 1-530-717-2502 to discuss your account in more detail and for assistance in identifying and repairing leaks.

For reference, the Drought Surcharge was authorized by the CPUC effective June 1, 2015 in Advice Letter 409: Schedule 14.1. The drought policies contained in Schedule 14.1, including surcharges and fines, are in place to meet the requirements of the Governor’s Executive Order B-29-15, the State Water Resources Control Board’s Emergency Conservation Regulations (Resolutions No. 2015-0015 and 2005-0032), and CPUC Resolutions W-4976, W-5034, and W-5041 enacting the Board’s regulations. The State of California requirements include enacting drought surcharges and fines for all water companies having 3,000 or more service connections; similar drought policies are in place throughout California, not just in Magalia.

Income from Drought Surcharges is not profit. The drought fines and surcharges collected go into a drought tracking account called the Statewide Lost Revenue Recovery Memorandum Account (SLRRMA). This account tracks the revenue from the fines and surcharges. The SLRRMA is subject to CPUC audit annually. If the losses and expenses exceed the revenues and savings, then a surcharge may be added. If the revenues and savings exceed the losses and expenses, then a refund (in the form of a surcredit) may apply.

More information about drought restrictions, the Drought Surcharge, and how to file an appeal for an increased water allowance is available at: http://www.delorowater.com/deloro/drought-pp.html

...is that there is no way our water usage could have increased that dramatically. There have been no changes in our water habbits. None. Moreover we have gone to extremes to conserve not just water but other utilities. Our PG&E bill for the same period was $55.04.

As to posting the two bills how would that help me to understand? I needn't post them to make a comparrison. One needn't have a doctorate in mathmatics to understand that the numbers are unsupportable.

Based on your report, you complained to the PUC when your bill "increased dramatically" and went to $50.  Where as a result the Water District has a personal vendetta against you and you alone to now charge you over $200.  So I guess you know this for a fact because there is a line on your bill that says "Complainers Fee(Don't mess with us)...$150".

Yea, pardon me if I don't buy into your theory.

So why not post a copy of your two bills.  You know the $50 one and the $200 one, with all of your personal information covered.  I bet once you did that it would show what is really going on. 

There is no "price gouging" because there has been drought all over the South - same thing happened in Texas so pay the bill and move on with your life. FYI I would love to have a 50.00 water bill!! Be grateful that it is not 400.00 like some of us in Texas get.