AUSTIN, Texas — Aqua Texas is proposing a rate hike for water and wastewater services in the Wimberley area, and customers aren't thrilled.
The Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings hosted a hearing on Wednesday to consider the proposition.
The water utility company wants to add another $9.55 to its customers' water bills and another $27.54 to their wastewater bills, which will add to a total base rate of more than $50, regardless of whether a drop of water is used.
"If this is going to be done yearly, which it appears like in the case with Aqua, these will just keep adding up. And when will they ever stop?" customer Karen Ricks asked during the hearing.
The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, the Woodcreek Property Owners Association and The Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association (TESPA) filed a joint testimony to prove the submitted application by Aqua Texas is not valid.
"Aqua has not met its burden of proof to show it is entitled to this rate increase," said Lauren Ice, who is the attorney representing the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association. "There is an enormous potential to set a precedent here, precedent that will impact the daily lives of thousands of Texans in an important and fundamental way."
Aqua Texas agues it has grounds for the increase, citing capital improvements.
"Everything related to that Austin water system is an eligible plan if its expenditure is a capital project," Aqua Texas rates and planning manager Rasool Ahmadibeni said during the hearing.
Attorney Geoff Kirshbaum, who represents Aqua Texas added, "We followed every letter of the law, of the rule, of the order."
The proposal comes after years of filed complaints, fines and lawsuits against Aqua Texas, which include claims of overpumping the Trinity Aquifer, serving customers an illegal groundwater supply and being the cause of record-low levels at Jacob's Well.
In February, conservation groups and residents hosted a meeting with a call to action to hold the water utility company accountable for not complying with local conservation guidelines, which Aqua Texas disputed.
Wednesday's hearing ended with no decision but will resume on Thursday at 9 a.m.
On Thursday morning, Aqua Texas sent KVUE the following statement:
“Aqua Texas filed for a System Improvement Charge increase with the Public Utility Commission of Texas in October of 2023 for our systems across the state. The System Improvement Charge allows Aqua to recoup some of the money spent on proactively improving infrastructure in Texas communities. Between January 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023, Aqua invested more than $85 million into water and wastewater systems across Texas in order to continue providing clean, safe, and reliable services to our customers.”