Proposed Rate Hike has Residents Boiling Mad

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) Dozens of Carolina Water customers who came out to the 3rd and final public hearing concerning the proposed rate hike say they are tired of complaining and now want action. Residents say their current bills are already 45 percent higher than neighboring communities. Some say an additional increase would send their bills skyrocketing out of control. Most of the customers agreed that poor water quality, old pipes that constantly burst and back up and poor customer service needs to be addressed before a rate hike is even considered. One resident who says he has been frustrated with Carolina Water over the last 17 years tells ABC Columbia News the increase would hit home hard. After all is said and done, he’d end up paying more for water in his home than he would for his car wash business in another county. John Hoy, Chief Operations Officer for Carolina Water says the current rates are based on rates used to run the system back in 2005. Since then Hoy says they have invested 10 million dollars in improvements, but admits more still needs to be done.