08-R280
2008 -- H 8359
Enacted 06/10/08
H O U S E
R E S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION DENY THE PROPOSED
THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT RATE INCREASE REQUESTED BY THE KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
Introduced By:
Representatives Serpa, Williamson, Murphy, Watson, and Fox
Date Introduced: June 10,
2008
WHEREAS,
The Kent County Water Authority (KCWA) was established in 1946 by the
Rhode
Island General Assembly (Public Law 1740) and was charged with providing
quality
water
at a reasonable rate to its ratepayers, who include citizens of Kent County in
its entirety,
and
portions of North Kingstown, Scituate and Cranston; and
WHEREAS,
The applied rate increase of 35% ($135.00) to the average customer is far
above
the current rate of inflation and much more than the average person can afford
to bear
under
the current economic circumstances; and
WHEREAS,
With Rhode Island currently suffering from a distressed economy, with job
losses,
sky-rocketing food prices and energy costs, the consumer today cannot afford to
pay
exorbitant
increases for every day necessities like water usage; and
WHEREAS,
The Kent County Water Authority should be looking at alternative
conservation
methodologies to reduce water usage and at the same time reduce water costs for
its
ratepayers;
and
WHEREAS,
The Kent County Water Authority should henceforth conduct an internal
review,
as well as consulting with other water authorities, to seek out ways to manage
its
operation
more efficiently in order to provide increased savings for its consumers and to
keep
costs
and future rate increases to a minimum; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives hereby respectfully requests that the
Rhode
Island Public Utilities Commission deny the requested thirty-five percent rate
increase by
the
Kent County Water Authority; and be it father
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Public Utilities
Commission,
and
the Kent County Water Authority.
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LC03030
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