Although we have been unable to attend the meetings regarding Monarch Utilities’ proposed rate increase, I did write letters to both the City of Kyle and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality back in July of this year. At the time these letters were written, the rates quoted in said letter were the latest posted rates on the respective websites. There have been increases to the comparison utilities since then, but nothing that comes close to what Monarch is proposing. In fact the City of Buda seems to be wringing its hands wondering whether the $1.00 increase in water rates will be too much for their residents.
Anyway to make a long ramble short, I’m attaching a letter that I wrote to both the City of Kyle and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. I urge you all to write as well, and feel free to use my letter as a guide. This proposed increase is for pure profit of the shareholders of http://swwc.com/. Check out their investor information for yourself. If there is anyway we can get the City of Kyle to provide water services for our community, I’m all for it.
Our water is a necessity, not a luxury to be profited on by a large corporation. As it is according to the last “official” letter received regarding water usage, we are still under stage 3 watering restrictions. With this rainy spring and summer not many are using water for outside watering, so I guess they need to raise rates to compensate for the lost revenue….not that we can water, wash cars, or wash down our driveways!
July 11, 2007
Texas Commission of Environmental Quality
Water Supply Division
Utilities & Districts Section, MC 153
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Re: Proposed Rate Increase-Monarch Utilities 1, LP
This is my formal protest to the water rate change proposed by Monarch Utilities 1, LP. We are already paying one of the highest rates for “poor water quality, poor customer service, and mandatory stage 3 drought restrictions” the past two years.
I just received my water bill for the past month today, and a comparison for the same usage in surrounding areas is as follows:
Utility District Usage in gallons Rate
City of Austin 13,000 $37.75
City of Buda 13,000 $46.95
City of Kyle 13,000 $43.58
Monarch Utilities 13,000 $81.66
Now they are proposing a 42% increase that would up my current water bill to $115.00 for a 13,000 gallons of water. We are within the Kyle City limits, pay taxes to the city of Kyle, but yet are forced to pay these outrageous water rates to a third party for-profit utility.
We have already cut back our usage to just the basic necessities, yet are expected to pay more for less? Please consider carefully whom you are serving in this community, the consumers who are paying these outrageous rates or the shareholders for a California based company.
Sincerely,
