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Supreme Court sides with Avondale on water rate hike
11/6/2009 11:47 PM   5 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend

The South Carolina Supreme Court overruled a circuit court injunction that has prevented Avondale Mills from collecting payment on July water bills issued to its customers without first being notified of an increase that, for some, was as much as 700 percent.

On average, the increase was at least 400 percent.

When Avondale customers received those first bills in July, there was a public outcry that has set in motion contentious debate among the customers, the state's Public Service Commission (PSC), Avondale Mills and the South Carolina court system.

Since that time, the customers have paid their August, September and October bills at the new rate but continue to rail against paying the July bills.

Members of the Aiken County Legislative Delegation have argued that Avondale customers should not have to pay the July bill at the increased rate.

By law, Sen. Shane Massey, R-Aiken, said, Avondale's customers should have received advance notice of the rate increase. They did not, he said.

The rate increase had been approved by the PSC more than a month before the bills were issued.

In response to the increase without notice, the legislative delegation and members of the public filed for an injunction on the July bills.

A circuit court granted the injunction, instructing Avondale that the new rates could not be charged until after July 31, when the customers were first officially notified, Massey said.

Avondale appealed the circuit court ruling to the state Supreme Court, which ruled Thursday in Avondale's favor.

The Supreme Court ruled that the circuit court had no jurisdiction on the issue.

Any appeal must first go to the PSC.

The delegation had sent two letters to the PSC in August, arguing in one that the increase was not properly publicized and in the other that the fee increase was not reasonable.

A week later, the PSC ruled that the rate increase was reasonable, but they did not address the issue of proper notification, Massey said.

On Friday, the legislative delegation and representatives from the public drafted another letter to the PSC.

"The goal is to get the July bills billed at the old rate," Massey said.

Officials are still in the process of negotiating with the Valley Public Service Authority (VPSA) to transfer the system from the former mill owner.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.


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  5 comment(s) on this story

:  11/7/2009

Seriously...this is what happens in a socialist system. Cut people a break for long enough, they become entitled. Instead of thanking someone for allowing you to pay lower water rates than everyone else for 20 years, the Valley rats whine when the gravy train runs out. Guess you've got to spend a little more on your bills and little less on weed and bail bondsmen now.

:  11/7/2009

DHEC has nothing to with it other than ensure that proper water quality is being met. You folks have been heavily subsidized for 3 decades. Now it is time to pay for what you use.

The Baron

Danger to Avondale Water workers :  11/7/2009

I think DHEC needs to investigate all the regulations that Felker violates when he sends his workers out to work on the sewer system. Those poor guys have to fend for themselves when reparing 19th century clay pipes. Felker knows his workers are ill-equiped and in danger (both physical and healthwise) when they go down into a manhole with regular clothes on and nothing to pull them out if something goes wrong. But I guess this is something that will be investigated AFTER the fact. The sad thing is, everybody knows about it.

DHEC :  11/7/2009

Where is the State DHEC in all of this? They are always nosing around water systems and imposing fee's. If they had real concerns about the poeple and their health they would be deep involved with this situation, as it can only go down hill if VPS is not taking it over. It would be nice if for once DHEC would actually help the people instead of impose fines against the tax payer. GET OFF YOUR REARS AND HELP THE PEOPLE OF GRAINTEVILLE with this issue.

:  11/7/2009

Well, there you have it folks! Bend over and grab your ankles.

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