Water rates may rise

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Water rates may rise

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008 10:42 AM EST

New Jersey American Water Co.’s proposed rate hike could have most local residents reaching deeper into their pockets when they turn on their taps.

The company announced Monday that it had filed for a 23.35 percent rate increase with the state’s Board of Public Utilities.

The company sells its water directly to between 5,000 to 7,000 Cranbury and Jamesburg residents, said company spokesperson Lendel Jones.

According to the company’s press release the average customers in Cranbury and Jamesburg will see about a $9.51 increase on their monthly bills.

Officials from both towns are giving the increase a thumbs down.

”This will have an impact on the residents,” said Cranbury Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer said. “I’m sure it makes everything more difficult.”

Jamesburg Mayor Tony LaMantia agreed.

”I think it’s outrageous,” he said. “It’s up to the Public Utilities to decide and hopefully they’ll look at the whole picture and make a good decision.”

Monroe residents, on the other hand, purchase their water from the township, which has a wholesale contract with the company, Ms. Jones said.

Michael Rogers, executive director of the Monroe Township Municipal Utilities Authority, said the township gets only15 percent of its water from the company.

Mr. Rogers said the MTMUA is unsure if the increase will even affect their customers.

The BPU’s process of approval can take up to 15 months, said the press release.
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http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/01/18/cranbury_press/news/doc4790c5c098d73379958188.prt

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