This is in response to the letter published Dec. 11 in the Acorn regarding the water rationing plan of Golden State Water Company (GSWC).

A customer expressed concern after receiving premium charges for exceeding their water allocation.

The California water shortage continues as a result of a drought and environmental restrictions on pumping water from the delta.

GSWC was mandated to reduce its purchased water from wholesale water providers or face major penalties.

The years 2004, 2005 and 2006 were chosen as baseline years for historical averages since they represent a dry, a wet and a relatively normal year in California.

For GSWC to meet its reduced allocation from its wholesale providers, it created a water rationing plan asking customers to reduce their usage by 15 percent compared to their property’s historical average.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved GSWC’s water rationing plan after a public meeting in June. To help customers reduce their usage and avoid premium charges, GSWC increased its customer outreach. For example, GSWC and the city of Simi Valley sponsored landscape water conservation workshops in the fall, which more than 150 people attended.

GSWC’s customers may apply for rebates for water-saving devices such as high-efficiency clothes washers and dryers on www.socalwatersmart.com; GSWC increased the amount of water use efficiency information on www.gswater.com, including “Five Golden Rules for Water Conservation,” a water-wise gardening brochure, information about in-house water audits and other money-saving suggestions; GSWC held two public meetings in Simi Valley since June 2009 during which the company provided free water-saving devices and literature.

GSWC understands the base years of 2004-06 may not be appropriate for every customer. For example, there may be additional people living in the home today.

Customers may apply for an allocation adjustment, but they still must conserve.

The applications are available at GSWC’s Simi Valley office. Hundreds of applications have been approved.

If GSWC collects more premium charges than required, it will refund the money.
Skip Faria
Simi Valley

Faria is superintendent for the Golden State Water Company in Simi Valley.