Water rates in the city of San Diego may go up and a city councilman and a local consumer group are fighting to stop the city council from voting to approve the increase.
The San Diego City Council is holding a public hearing on Jan. 24, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. to consider whether or not they will charge residents for a cost of water increase, placed on the city by the San Diego County Water Authority.
City Councilman Carl DeMaio is urging city residents to complete the protest forms delivered with their recent water bills to stop the increase. According to DeMaio, the city's water bills have increased by 65 percent by 2007.
The Utility Consumers' Action Network is also encouraging citizens to say no to the increase. UCAN has launched a website called rottenspud.org. On the site, consumers can send a rotten potato with a personalized message to members of city council.
The County Water Authority voted to increase rates for imported water beginning on January 1, 2011, which will effect all county water agencies, according to a direct mail piece the city mailed to its water customers.
City officials say if the rate increase is passed, more than 90 percent of its customers will have a $0.47 monthly increase on their water bill. The rate of increase would vary with the size of the customer's water meter.
