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Senate committee advances water-provider reform requiring rate studies and limited outside-customer representation
Summary
After extensive testimony from utilities, local officials and residents, the Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee passed SB 481, which mandates five-year rate studies, limited board training and a petition-triggered representation process for county customers served by municipal systems; proponents said it addresses long-term underfunding, while municipal groups warned of added bureaucracy.
Senators on the City, County & Local Affairs Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 481 after hours of testimony from local officials, utilities and residents who described aging infrastructure and chronic underfunding of water providers. The bill would require water utilities to conduct a rate study at least every five years, prohibit selling water below cost, mandate limited training for board members with a possible grandfather exemption, and create a process for county customers who receive water from a city to seek representation on their water board under certain conditions.
Sponsor Senator Alan Clark framed the bill as the product of an 18-month task force and a response to a statewide assessment of problems. Clark told the committee the task force found many small systems were not setting rates sufficiently to cover long-term maintenance, which left…
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