California Water Service Asks to Delay Rate Changes

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT) announced today that its California subsidiary, California Water Service (Cal Water), has requested that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) delay upcoming rate changes due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and has committed to deferring other bill increases during 2020.

In a motion filed Tuesday, April 28, 2020 in its 2018 General Rate Case, Cal Water recognized the impact the current crisis may be having on its customers. While requesting that the CPUC move forward with a final decision in the case so Cal Water can complete its Infrastructure Improvement Plan and appropriately plan for its next General Rate Case, Cal Water proposed that any rate changes be postponed to January 1, 2021. The CPUC has authorized Cal Water to record the difference between existing rates and final rates from January 1, 2020 through the time final rates are implemented in a memorandum account for future recovery.

Previously, Cal Water worked with the CPUC staff to modify the timing of its annual surcharge adjustment filings to eliminate rate increases these filings could have generated during this public health emergency. California Water Service Group also was among the first to announce it would suspend collections activities in all its subsidiaries, an action subsequently adopted by state regulators for all utilities.

“Our top priority is to protect the health and safety of our customers, and with the effects of the pandemic and economic concerns, the last thing we want them to worry about is their water bill,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, President and CEO. “Our customers should feel confident in their ability to use their water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene, because even though we’re six feet apart, we’re all in this together.”

About California Water Service Group
California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service, Washington Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. Together, these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to more than 2 million people in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. California Water Service Group’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CWT.” Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com.