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Utilities Hearing Draws Fasano

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Suncoast News staff

Published: September 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - State Sen. Mike Fasano is scheduled to testify Friday in opposition to water and sewer rate increases Aqua Utilities Florida has requested, according to a news release from the lawmaker.

The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on the Aqua Utilities Florida rate request at 4 p.m. Friday at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road. Tropical Storm Fay forced the PSC to postpone the hearing, originally scheduled for Aug. 22.

Aqua Utilities Florida, which has customers in the Jasmine Lakes, Palm Terrace and Zephyr Shores areas of Pasco County, filed its rate-increase proposal May 22 with the PSC.

For water service, the proposed base charge would go up to $21.92 per month, plus a "gallonage charge" for another $3.80 for each 1,000 gallons used up to 5,000 gallons. Above 5,000 gallons, the gallonage charge would rise to $4.76 per 1,000 gallons.

For sewage service, the company proposes a base charge of $45.26, plus another $8.73 per 1,000 gallons used, up to the cap of 6,000 gallons on the gallonage charge.
Utility officials said the rate increase is necessary for the company to "to earn a fair rate of return on its investment and to cover increasing operating costs," according to PSC documents.

"With high gasoline costs, insurance rates that remain a burden for many people, and taxes that continue to drag down the average family," Fasano, R-New Port Richey, said in the release, "granting a rate increase for the sole purpose of giving a utility company a greater margin of profit is unconscionable."

Fasano is encouraging residents to attend Friday's PSC hearing to protest as well.

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