Burlco Bits

Freeholder Director: Rate Hike Decision a 'Small Victory'

Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio says he'll press for reforms after rate hike fight with New Jersey American Water.

Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said Tuesday’s decision by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to knock down New Jersey American Water’s rate increase “could be called a small victory” for ratepayers. According to a release from the county, American Water came away from its meeting with the BPU with a rate hike less than one-third of the $95 million it originally sought. However, Garganio said as far as he is concerned, “there is still a battle to be waged here.” He said he would press for reforms in the way the public is notified and participates in the process, and that would include reforms for all the state entities involved. “We came away from (Tuesday’s) hearing knowing only that American Water was just awarded $…

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Burlco Bits

BurlCo Freeholder Demands Explanation of Settlement

Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has filed a public records request with the state seeking an explanation of its settlement with New Jersey American Water.

Hoping to find out why a judge has tentatively approved a $30 million rate increase for New Jersey American Water, Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio last week filed an Open Public Records (OPRA) request with the N.J. Division of Rate Counsel requesting a full accounting. “I want to find out how a financial expert’s opinion calling for a $46 million decrease in rates suddenly turned into a $30 million award in additional revenues,” said Garganio. “I think a $76 million swing is worthy of explanation.” Meantime, Garganio has reached out to Robert Hanna, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and demanded the proposed increase be taken up by the entire BPU in an open public session.   “We have a petition signed by 11,…

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Senate Attempts to Block Water Rate Hike

New Jersey American Water's proposed 20 percent rate increase could cost Cinnaminson a lot.

The New Jersey Senate voted unanimously last week to block New Jersey American Water’s (NJAW) bid for a 20 percent rate increase. In a statement released by the county, Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio praised the legislators for standing against “the immense lobbying pressure” the company exerted during the critical hours leading up to the vote. “It takes guts to stand up to a mega-monopoly like American Water,” Garganio said. “The feedback we received was that Senate leadership was under intense pressure to pull the resolution from consideration. Meantime, individual senators were being collared in the hallway. But everyone stood fast.” The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego, calls on the New Jersey …

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Burlco Bits

County Continues Water Rate Fight

Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio presses state office to stand firm and call off negotiations with New Jersey American Water.

Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has called on the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel to “cease and desist” negotiations aimed at arriving at a compromise with New Jersey American Water (NJAW) on its request for a 20 percent rate increase. In a letter to Rate Counsel Director Stefanie Brand, Garganio demanded the agency stand firm on its own expert’s analysis that calls for a decrease in water rate revenue in the amount of $45.8 million. NJAW is currently seeking $95.5 million over its current revenues of $565 million. “This is not the time to play ‘let’s make a deal,’” wrote Garganio. “The outrage from ratepayers and residents is clear: It’s time to draw a line in the sand and end the business-as-usual process of …

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Freeholders Declare Early Victory in Water Rate Fight

The New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel will seek a rate decrease of $45.8 million for New Jersey American Water, countering the utility's push for a 20 percent increase.

Burlington County freeholders declared a partial victory this week in their fight against New Jersey American Water’s (NJAW) rate hike, after learning the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel will counter by seeking an actual rate decrease. “Burlington County residents who have signed our petition, online or through the mail, have been heard,” said Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio. “Rate Counsel, which represents all utility customers in the state, will argue for an actual cut in water rates when hearings begin the end of March. “Obviously, we are still at the mercy of the Office of Administrative Law and the Board of Public Utilities, which ultimately decides who pays what,” he added. “So I encourage all our residents to add their names …

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Patch O' Green

Water Rate Hike Makes Waves Among Freeholders, but the Real Surge Is Yet to Come

The price of New Jersey American Water's services is set to jump 20 percent and Freeholder Director Garganio is peeved. But a survey of the industry puts this pricing trend on a slippery slope—up.

We do not know the value of water until we go dry. - Irish Proverb Actually, we know the value of water right now, and it's about to be 20 percent higher than it used to be if New Jersey American Water's rate increases go through. As Patch covered in January, the public utility filed a request through the state to increase revenues from rates $95.5 million. The bump will increase the average home's monthly bill by $7.63. Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has taken a stand on this issue. His aim is not just in protesting the price hike, but in holding New Jersey American Water (NJAW) accountable for notifying the public and more vociferously explaining the need for the price increase in the first place. As his letter to …

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JimE

2:45 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012

Forget about Water and Sewer that suck another 20-30 bucks out of my pocket every month. I want to know what happened and is happening to all the money thats being robbed from me in property taxes every day. My taxes almost tripled in the big bubble. Not because they were running a deficit, Not because they had a big expansion project looming, Just because someone said; hey, look at how much …   more ›

Cinnaminson Opposes Water Rate Hike

Several Burlington County towns are signing a petition against the increase.

Cinnaminson is among several municipal governments in Burlington County passing resolutions and singing a petition against a rate hike proposed by New Jersey American Water (NJAW). NJAW is calling for a rate increase of $95.5 million, which translates into a 20 percent boost over rate revenues. “We are against the rate increase that American Water is proposing,” said Mayor Don Brauckmann. The resolution says if the rate increase is approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, it will “negatively impact ratepayers … at a time many homeowners and businesses are struggling to survive financially.” NJAW requested approval from the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in July to raise rates 20 percent, according to a release from the …

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Clean Water, Cheap Water, Sweet Water

For a township inextricably linked to water, it's time we get acquainted with the life-allowing liquid.

When you received your 2009 Annual Water Quality Report in the mail last March, you read it cover to cover, right? You studied the charts, consulted the definition listings, Googled the terms you were unfamiliar with? You didn't? Tsk. It's the substance we consume most of, and the one that is most directly related to our good health. Heck, it's even in our town name! The name "Cinnaminson" is derived from the Lenni Lenape Senamensing, meaning "sweet water," on account of the area's sugar maple trees.  So, I submit that we owe it to our municipal history—nay, our heritage—to get to the bottom of the liquid on which we so completely depend. Now that I've shamed you into learning the banal subject that is water, allow me to give you the …

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Cindy Pierson

4:17 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cinnaminson residents should be aware that on February 7,2011, the Pompeston Creek Watershed Association will be making a presentation to the Cinnaminson Twp Committee entitled “The Status of Pompeston Creek from 1998-2008: A Water Quality Report”. The PCWA urges concerned twp residents to attend or request a copy of this report. More info available on pg 6 of our newsletter at www.pompestoncreek…   more ›