Patrick Rose

AUSTIN–State Rep. Patrick Rose has thrown the weight of his office into the fray over a proposed rate increase that would affect thousands of Hays County residents.

The increase has been proposed by AquaTexas Inc. and is scheduled to be considered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at a hearing May 21.

“The proposed base rate of $97.09 for water and sewer, which fails to include a single gallon of water, is unjust and excessive,” Rose said. He added that the company’s claim it needs additional infrastructure to provide service was something AquaTexas knew before it purchased Texas water systems that collectively serve more than 150,000 residents.

Rose said the company “should accept responsibilities for these operation expenses, customers should not bear the full cost of these improvements alone.”

In Hays County, AquaTexas owns Chaparral Water System, Copper Hills Water System, Granite Creek Water Supply Corporation, Leisurewoods Water Company, Meadow Woods Water Supply, Oak Meadows, Southwest Territory, Woodcreek Utility Company I, Woodcreek Utility Company II and Sierra West Subdivision.

The request before TCEQ commissioners does not include the two Woodcreek systems, as they have appealed the rate increase separately.

“I believe this request should be denied by the TCEQ commissioners because of its negative impact on Hays County families, particularly at a time when basic costs like fuel and food are increasing daily,” Rose said.