Live Oak Springs Water

CPUC READY TO GRANT 44 PERCENT RATE HIKE TO TROUBLED LIVE OAK SPRINGS WATER CO.

 

By Mike Allen

April 4, 2016 (Boulevard) --Customers of tiny Live Oak Springs Water Co. in Boulevard are worried that a pending 44 percent increase to their water bills won’t provide them with better service, and is nothing more than a bailout to the water company that remains in bankruptcy.

When the California Public Utilities Commission convenes April 7 the commission will likely grant Live Oak its rate increase, which is on the consent calendar. That will send average water bills to $107 a month, from the current average $74, according to the proposed resolution). Yet some customers say instead of helping the company, the PUC should replace the woeful management of Live Oak Springs Water.

“If it’s in bankruptcy, why in God’s name are they allowing him to run the water district?,” says Paul Isham, a 27-year resident of the area at the eastern edge of San Diego County. Isham said Live Oak pumped water from a stream near his property several years ago that caused his well to dry up. The action forced Isham to greatly curtail a small ranch business.


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CPUC ISSUES SCATHING RESPONSE TO LIVE OAK SPRINGS WATER REQUEST FOR REHEARING

 

"In short, the parties  seeking rehearing have made one last ditch effort to obfuscate the facts of this case in the minds of the Commission’s decision makers by throwing spaghetti against the wall to see if they can get anything to stick. Instead, all they’ve managed to do is make a big mess,  which others are obligated to clean up.” -- Jonathan Knapp, CPUC attorney

By Miriam RAftery

September 12, 2013 (Live Oak Springs) – In May, we reported that the California Public Utilities Commission called for takeover of the Live Oak Springs Water Company and a million dollar fine for putting public health at risk. The CPUC  iin May, asked the Superior Court to appoint a receiver to operate the water company and  takeover the property, including the bankrupt Live Oak Springs Resort , where cabins and a restaurant remain closed. http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/13272

Live Oak Springs filed for a rehearing, claiming “wrongful and malicious” wrongdoing on the part of the CPUC and suggestion a conspiracy with the CPUC and county officials. Now CPUC attorney Jonathan Knapp with the Division of Water and Audits  has issued  a scathing response following the CPUC investigation:   http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M076/K841/76841425.PDF


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