Aqua North Carolina pushing to spike water rates to Charlotte customers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dirty, smelly water, bad customer service and high bills are some of the complaints about Aqua North Carolina that Channel 9 has investigated over the years.

Now, there's a big push from customers against a request to make their bills even higher.

Read our past coverage on Aqua North Carolina

• Aqua North Carolina requests 19 percent rate increase
• Mint Hill residents report more issues with Aqua North Carolina
• Charlotte approves purchase of Mint Hill water, sewer systems
• City Council to discuss Aqua plan, Monroe's retirement
• Residents hopeful Charlotte will take over water system
• Charlotte proposes to buy water systems in Mint Hill area
• Residents protest quality of water, rate hikes
• 9 Investigates: Dark water turns filters brown; some residents scared to drink it

Customers could face an 11 percent spike in their water bills if Aqua North Carolina has its way.

But in their testimony filed Wednesday, state workers said they are against the proposed hike.

"We've constantly had issues with this water service,” said Carrie Letorney, who lives in a south Charlotte neighborhood. “I’ve been here 5 1/2 years and it has always been something.”

Residents in Letorney’s neighborhood complain about high water bills and bad customer service.

"They have to flush the system so we do get a lot of interruptions in our service,” Letorney said.

“I know I’m paying more than I did in east Charlotte, but I expected that I would get something for it,” customer Gabe Maron said. “I haven’t gotten that much for it.”

This March, Aqua asked to raise water rates on all North Carolina customers by an average of 8.1 percent.

Customers in the Charlotte area could see even higher averages rates.

Aqua officials said the increase will help recover money spent on filter installations and upgrades to improve water quality.

In the testimony, public staff, who represent ratepayers, said the utilities commission shouldn't grant Aqua's request.

They said the commission should lower Aqua's revenue by about $1.7 million.

The testimony mentioned customer complaints about water quality and said more should be done to improve those conditions.

"I hope they rule for the public and don't let these private companies have their way,” Letorney said.

Aqua will respond to the testimony on Aug. 31. Then, in September, the utilities commission will hear testimony and make a decision.

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