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Arizona Water Company describes rate case, says typical Apache Junction bill would rise about $10 under proposal
Summary
Arizona Water Company representatives told the Apache Junction council the company filed a rate case with the Arizona Corporation Commission on 04/03/2026; they said a typical residential customer’s bill would increase from about $41.32 to $51.30 if the requested changes are approved, and outlined the ACC review and public comment schedule.
Arizona Water Company representatives briefed the Apache Junction City Council on a recently filed rate case, saying the company seeks to align rates with post-2022 capital investments and rising operating costs.
Nick Liu, AWC’s vice president of rates and revenues, told the council the company filed the application with the Arizona Corporation Commission on April 3, 2026. He said the ACC uses a historic test year (in this case 2025) and that ACC staff and the Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO) will review the filing before hearings. Liu said the discovery period will likely run through the end of 2026, hearings are expected in the first quarter of 2027, and a final commission decision could come in the second quarter of 2027.
Liu provided an example of customer impact: a typical residential customer with a 5/8-inch meter using about 3,000 gallons a month now pays about $41.32; under the company’s proposed rates that bill would be about $51.30 — roughly a $10 increase. He characterized that as "less than $10" in direct remarks to the council and noted the company offers a bill-assistance program that provides a $10 monthly discount to qualifying low-income and active military customers and has asked the commission to continue and increase that discount.
James Wilson, the company’s assistant general manager for the Apache Junction system, highlighted recent infrastructure investments that the company says support the filing: replacement of well pumps, a new 6,000-square-foot warehouse to centralize equipment and improved tank maintenance and main replacements tied to local road projects.
Liu stressed that new rates would not take effect until approved by the ACC and that the administrative law judge assigned to the case will set specific public-comment sessions. "There will be several" public-comment sessions, he said, including at least one before the hearing begins and additional opportunities during the hearing and before a final commission vote.
During the public-comment portion of the meeting, resident Donna Carr called the proposed increase "almost 25%" and compared it to recent Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The council asked staff to provide follow-up information on the timeline for customer notices and the scheduling of public comment sessions.
City staff and AWC said they will notify customers once the administrative law judge sets public-comment dates and will provide details on assistance programs and next steps in the ACC process.
