Montgomery County Homeowners Face Quadrupled Water Bills Amidst Aqua Texas Rate Hike Controversy

Proposed Water Rate Hikes in Montgomery County

• 🎯 Homeowners in Montgomery County, specifically at Lakes at Black Oak, are facing a proposed water rate hike by Aqua Texas that could quadruple their current bills.
• 💡 This proposed increase would mean paying significantly more than neighbors in nearby municipal utility districts.

Aqua Texas's Justification and History

• 💰 Aqua Texas, a for-profit company serving 80,000 customers, claims the rate hike is necessary to fund nearly $700 million in infrastructure investments made between 2004 and 2024.
• ⚠️ However, the proposal comes amidst a history of poor service, including nearly 2,000 boil water notices issued statewide over the past three years due to public health risks.
• 🗣️ Customers have reported receiving unusable, yellow-brown water and experiencing damage to household appliances, such as hot water heaters.

Customer Frustration and Regulatory Review

• 😠 Residents like Miguel Larriba and Travis Roberts express extreme frustration, calling the situation "more than crazy" and detailing issues like needing to flush pipes every few days.
• 🔍 Approximately 3,000 customers have filed protests with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), which is currently reviewing Aqua Texas's rate hike application.
• ⏳ The PUC has requested more time to review the application, with a decision expected in at least another month.