Holding water companies accountable sounds good to this HOA

Article Courtesy of Bay News 9

By Jason Lanning

Published January 22, 2014

 

TRILBY -- A new senate bill aimed at private water companies across the state has dozens of neighborhoods supporting the new legislative effort.

State Sen. Wilton Simpson (R) Trilby is sponsoring Senate Bill 272. It would tighten regulation of private water companies, allowing Florida's Public Service Commission to freeze rate hikes and levy fines.

  
"It's going to allow the PSC to have a measured response based on their findings to eradicate the problems," Simpson said. "This bill will bring responsibility to the utility."

Current regulations in Florida allow private water companies to petition the PSC for rate hikes, but water customers have no recourse to complain about increasing rates with no improvement in water quality.

The Summertree community in New Port Richey has been fighting its water company for more than a decade.

Homeowners Association President Rich Neilsen says poor water quality has forced homeowners to buy their own filtration systems.

Rich Neilsen, president for the Summertree Homeowners Association in New Port Richey, says his community is paying “enormous funds” for unsatisfactory water.

"We are paying enormous funds for unsatisfactory water," Neilsen said. "The residents of this community need to buy bottled water to drink. We can't drink our water."

Senate Bill 272 passed a senate subcommittee unanimously this week. The bill is set for review by the Senate Community Affairs Committee in early February.

If the bill passes in Community Affairs, it could be voted on by the full senate in March.

Although private water customers are supporting the legislation, private water companies are working to make sure it doesn't pass. Some small water companies say it could put them out of business.

Gary Williams, executive director of the Florida Rural Water Association, said in a statement:

"[The] concerned bill will raise water utility bills for non-health and ascetic reasons and treatment tech that are very costly," he said. "Further, concerned penalty/fine takes money from utility that could be used to help support cost."

The senate bill would require 65 percent of water company customers to sign a petition before the PSC would review the complaints and determine if any penalties or rate hike freezes are warranted.

During testimony in front of a senate committee on public utilities last week, Simpson said many neighborhoods support the measure.

SB 272: Water and Wastewater Utilities
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LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2014