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PORT RICHEY — State environmental officials have warned Aqua Utilities about “possible violations of law” at two sewage plants in west Pasco.

Warning letters sent last week from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection chronicle abuses such as excessive solid waste and improper maintenance at the Palm Terrace and Jasmine Lakes wastewater plants.

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As described by its customers from Jasmine Lakes, Zephyr Shores and Palm Terrace, Aqua is the Miami Heat of water utilities, an overpriced underperformer that overpromises and underdelivers, then whines when its inadequacies are pointed out.

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Today’s article in the St. Petersburg Times (see link below) indicates that Pasco County officials had an opportunity to purchase water and waste-water systems currently owned by Aqua Utilities, but apparently, Pasco County (if I read this correctly) wasn’t  interested, because they were too old and/or too small.

Even if that is true, no one, I repeat, no one forced Aqua to buy these systems, so let’s stay focused on the real problem at hand - Aqua Utilities, the “water profiteer”, who doesn’t care what it cost!  By the way, the Public Service Commission isn’t too concerned about what it costs either.

That’s right, Aqua doesn’t care how much a rate-payer has to pay.  That’s not part of their business model.  And the PSC is required by law to insure a return on profit for Aqua.

Guaranteed a return on profit, regardless of what it cost their rate-payers.

Why?  Because our Florida State Senators and Representatives created the laws that make it that way, by instructing the Public Service Commission to give investor-owned uitilites a guaranteed rate of return, regardless of what it costs you and me.  And until those laws are amended, nothing will change, except for more acquisitions, that lead to more rate increases, that generate more profits, that reward Aqua’s stockholders, etc.

Investor-owned utilities were suppose to help solve some of the water and waste-water problems Florida was experiencing.  In the case of Aqua Utilities, things have become even worse.  They only care about acquisitions, that lead to rate increases, that generate profits, that reward their stockholders.  And then more acquisitions, that lead to rate increases, that generate profits, that reward their stockholders, etc.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/regulators-take-issue/1170198

Senator Mike Fasano and State Representative Will Weatherford give the Florida PSC over 900 petitions, from Pasco County customers requesting that the Florida Public Service Commission deny Aqua Utilities of Florida request for an increase in Water and Wastewater rates.

To view docket file and download click the link below:

http://www.psc.state.fl.us/dockets/cms/docketFilings2.aspx?docket=100330



PORT RICHEY — More than 900 Aqua Utilities customers in Pasco County have petitioned the
state to allow the county to take over their water and sewer systems.

(read more at link below)

http://www2.tbo.com/news/pasco-news/2011/may/05/PANEWSO1-utilitys-clients-object-to-rates-ar-204888/

Now’s a good time to remind the Florida PSC that Aqua’s business model is on “life support”, and the “plug” needs to be pulled!  Keeping it “alive”, regardless of how much the rate-payers have to shell out, is not the appropriate way to provide water and waste-water service to Floridians.

Pasco County offers better Quality of Service, and better rates.  Locally Owned Water is the way to go!

You might want to file a complaint online at www.flpsc.com, under ‘Consumer Assistance’.

Commissioner Jack Mariano memo to the Florida PSC, Commissioner Mariano is also helping to organize, and go with us our planned bus caravan to Tallahassee May 24 Commission Agenda Confercence on May 24, 2011.

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