Rate hike rejected

A proposed water rate hike in Paradise was defeated by a flood of written protests from residents submitted to the Paradise Irrigation District office and at a public hearing held Monday (Feb. 8).

The PID had planned to roll out a “customer choice rate plan” that would significantly raise rates for some consumers effective this month, citing revenue lost from water conservation efforts and the need to construct a controversial $16.5 million filtration system (see “Making waves,” Newslines, Jan. 21).

Opponents needed 5,269 written protests to stop the hike, and submitted 5,806, the PID confirmed. Monday’s meeting ran from 6:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m as public comment was heard and the written protests were counted. The PID will now have to submit a new rate plan.