California Water Service Receives Approval for Interim Rate Increases Effective April 15, 2023

Rhea-AI Summary

California Water Service (CWT) has been granted a ruling by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to implement modified interim rates starting April 15, 2023. This allows a 4% rate increase across most districts, which is crucial for funding necessary infrastructure improvements. The ruling aims to mitigate future surcharges that may arise from delayed decisions regarding the company's General Rate Case (GRC). CWT emphasizes the positive impact of inflation considerations in this decision, which helps balance the financial needs of both the utility and its customers.

Positive

• Approval of a 4% rate increase effective April 15, 2023.
• Decision allows for crucial infrastructure improvements.

Negative

• Delayed final decision on the General Rate Case.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Water Service (Cal Water), a subsidiary of California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT), has received a ruling in its General Rate Case (GRC)—pending before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)—that approves modified interim rates effective beginning April 15, 2023. The ruling allows Cal Water to increase rates by 4% in most of its districts, so that the utility can continue to make infrastructure improvements intended to keep its systems safe and reliable.

Interim rates are allowed by Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) in California when a final decision is delayed beyond the first day new rates were scheduled to be effective. In Cal Water’s 2021 GRC filing, also known as its Infrastructure Improvement Plan, rates would have been effective on Jan. 1, 2023 had the CPUC issued a decision before then; however, that proceeding has been delayed. The ALJ had previously approved an interim rates memorandum account beginning Jan. 1, 2023 without a rate increase. Interim rates, which can reduce the compounded effect of delayed recovery, are subject to refund or adjustment depending on the final rates approved.

“We appreciate the ALJ’s understanding that inflation impacts Cal Water as well as our customers, and that withholding an interim rate increase could impact customers in the future by requiring higher surcharges on top of anticipated rate increases,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group President and CEO. “We are pleased that the CPUC acted to mitigate the impacts from a delayed decision.”

About California Water Service Group
California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service. 

What sets Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders.  Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Group’s 1,100+ employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity.  Integral to Group’s strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being.  The company has been named one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work®.  More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("Act"). The forward-looking statements are intended to qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for "safe harbor" treatment established by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections, and management's judgment about the Company, the water utility industry and general economic conditions. Such words as seek, would, expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, assumes, anticipates, projects, predicts, forecasts or variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from what is contained in a forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause a result different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to: the CPUC’s future decisions with respect to Cal Water’s 2021 GRC filing; natural disasters, public health crises, pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks of a contagious disease, such as the outbreak of coronavirus (or COVID‐19); governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions, including decisions on proper disposition of property; consequences of eminent domain actions relating to our water systems; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and procedures; the timeliness of regulatory commissions' actions concerning rate relief and other actions; changes in water quality standards; changes in environmental compliance and water quality requirements; electric power interruptions; housing and customer growth trends; the impact of opposition to rate increases; our ability to recover costs; availability of water supplies; issues with the implementation, maintenance or security of our information technology systems; civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts; the adequacy of our efforts to mitigate physical and cyber security risks and threats; the ability of our enterprise risk management processes to identify or address risks adequately; labor relations matters as we negotiate with unions; changes in customer water use patterns and the effects of conservation; the impact of weather, climate, natural disasters, and diseases on water quality, water availability, water sales and operating results, and the adequacy of our emergency preparedness; and, other risks and unforeseen events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this paragraph, as well as the annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Q, and other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company assumes no obligation to provide public updates of forward-looking statements.

Media Contact
Tom Smegal (analysts)
tsmegal@calwater.com
408-367-8200

Yvonne Kingman (media)
ykingman@calwater.com
310-257-1434

FAQ

What is the date of the rate increase for California Water Service (CWT)?

The rate increase for California Water Service (CWT) is effective April 15, 2023.

What percentage increase has California Water Service received approval for?

California Water Service has received approval for a 4% rate increase.

Why was the rate increase necessary for CWT?

The rate increase was necessary to fund critical infrastructure improvements and to mitigate future customer surcharges.

What does the ruling mean for California Water Service's General Rate Case?

The ruling allows for modified interim rates while the final decision on the General Rate Case is delayed.