Four candidates who are running for two open seats on the Lake Monticello board of directors answer the Fluvanna Review's questions.

Question 1

Do you consider the current water rates as levied by Aqua Virginia – including the interim rates – to be excessive? If so, how would you propose lowering the rates?

Gary Dillon: Yes! In fact, I so strongly oppose the rate increase that I spoke at the State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearings in Richmond and asked the SCC to deny Aqua Virginia’s requested increase.. I was one of only two LMOA residents to speak before the SCC. Although LMOA has no vote in the final determination, which remains under review by the SCC, I was disappointed that no one from LMOA spoke at the hearings in opposition to the increase. Any proposal to lower the rates requested requires expert analysis of the numbers behind the request. This expertise should come from the SCC and other qualified analysts (including Aqua Virginia's). It would be presumptuous of me to suggest ways to lower rates, given the lack of financial information in the rate-related Aqua documentation. However, expert witness, Glenn A. Watkins argued that "Aqua Virginia's requested rate increases are excessive, [and] not based on actual costs." This is precisely my concern. The requested increase should be cost-driven and financially supported rather than unfair and unrealistic.

Jerry Guske: The recent "interim" water rate increase is the second in four years. Prior to 2006, a water bill of $50 (then) has now escalated to near $150 today. Presently, our (base) monthly water utility rate is $61.54, "before using one drop of water." So yes, I do consider our current water rates excessive. As I did in '06 and again this year, along with many other residents and our board of directors, opposition to this increase was registered with the State Corporation Commission, which included our board president attending the March rate hearing in Richmond. The SCC has taken this rate increase request from Aqua under advisement with a decision to be rendered in the coming months. For now anyway, there is nothing more that can be done.

Britt Johnson: The rates appear to me to be excessive, abrupt, and not based upon actual costs which means they are unjustified. The one thing we can do is to protest the size of the increases through the State Corporation Commission and our legislators and hope that common sense will prevail.
For those of you who are not aware of a cost saving suggestion: I have purchased a water meter from Aqua Virginia for attachment to my outside hose faucet which will meter water usage for water used to wash my car, water the grass and plants, fill a pool etc. Then I call them to read the meter and get a credit off the sewage charges because they don’t have to process this water. This can be a significant savings, especially at the new rates.

Susan Wolff: I can appreciate that reasonable rate changes may be required; however, a 40% to 50% increase is unreasonable. I have written protest letters to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) requesting this unjustified increase be denied, since it is not based on actual costs.
The Board of Directors has protested the rates, but only the SCC can lower rates. We must continue to make our voices heard.
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