The following letter, mentioned in the February 2002 RHA Newsletter, was selected for publishing on the RHA website.  Such letters reflect the opinions of the writer, and not those of the Riviera Homeowners Association.

January 17, 2002

California Public Utilities Commission
Water Division
505 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102

Re: A - 01-09-065

Attention: Hearing Officer

Dear Hearing Officer:

The application by California Water Service to increase water rates in the area that I live is a concern of mine as an individual and also as a member of the Hollywood Riviera Homeownders Association.

Specifically, my concern is directed to three areas that I believe should be of concern of the PUC and the staff when reviewing California Water Service's application for increased water rates.

1. Unless the "low income rate assistance" program is mandated by a government agency, I would want to see the Utility obtain their customers' approval before starting such a program.  If the company wants such a program and it is not mandated nor approved by the customers, then let the cost of the program come from the "Net Income" of California Water Service, not their customers.
2. I am not sure that the staff of the CPUC reviews the capital investment of the Utility very closely to protect the consumer.  As an example, the standard vehicle for the field personnel is a pickup truck.  There is generally one for each field person.  At California Water Service that presently is a standard Ford 150 pickup.  This utility for the most part carries nothing or very little in these vehicles as they are basically used for transportation.  A smaller pickup, such as a Ford Ranger or Chevrolet S would do the same thing and the cost in purchasing is thousands of dollars less, the cost of maintenance is less, as is the cost of operation.  The additional capital cost that the company has decided to spend results in higher cost tot he customer without any incrase in service.  This is just one obvious capital item that the staff of the CPUC should be looking into as they are the things that are supposed to be protecting the customers' interests.
3. I would hope that California Water Service's Hermosa-Redondo district not be charged anycosts, capital or expense, that should be borne by their Palos Verdes District, former Dominguez Water Company service area, and the City of Hawthorne's water system that they operate.  This concern stems from the recent combining of operations for all of these four separate rate-making areas at one location.

Thank you for your consideration of these concerns of mine.

Sincerely yours,

Roscoe L. Anthony, Jr.
265 Vista del Parque
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Telephone: (310) 375-****