Far West rate hike isn't reasonable

In Gloria Neff's recent letter, she talks about winter visitors basically paying double for sewer use. That is not exactly correct. We do pay 12 months a year when we only occupy our property for five or six months, but the billing is a requirement of Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Her statement about needing better money management is very true.

Anyone who thinks paying the bill for months we are not here is free money to the owners of Far West is not considering that the employee payroll must still be met. All their bills must be paid, and the loans which built the plants must be paid.

I am an Intervenor on this rate case and very involved. This rate increase must be approved by ACC, if not, they can't do it.

A small group of intervenors has requested that the commissioners of ACC hold a public comment meeting here in Yuma. That meeting was approved last Friday and will be held Feb. 20, 2013, with the time and place to be announced soon.

The hearings on the case will all be held in Phoenix, so this is your chance to come and voice your comments. I can tell you from the last rate case, the commissioners do listen and are influenced by the users. We must present our case that Far West has not served the public well, and show that the rates are totally out of reason.

Robert Rist

Yuma