Mesa Crest Water Co. customers in La Cañada Flintridge received word last month that they’re going to have a new water provider.
According to a filing with the California Public Utilities Commission, Mesa Crest Water Co., which was incorporated in LCF in 1956 and serves about 700 local residents, is being sold to Liberty Park Water, which provides service to about 29,000 customers in southeastern L.A. County.
“They’re being acquired by a large company that serves lots of communities in L.A. County and is a big national company, so we expect service to be better,” said Rich Atwater, president of the Foothill Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors. “It’s a much more sophisticated operation. Working with them will improve water service and conservation.”
According to the notice of proposed sale posted on the California Public Utilities Commission, the Downey-based Liberty Utilities Co. plans no rate increase for 2017-18 unless there is an added cost to purchasing water or electricity.
Liberty Park Water proposes an inflationary rate increase of 3% annually for years 2019-21, the notice said. An average customer’s bill would go from $156.64 in the coming year to $161.34 in 2019.
“Mesa Crest believes this purchase is in the best interest of its customers because it will provide Mesa Crest customers with increased operational efficiencies and cost advantages from an increase in size,” the CPUC notice reads. “This would benefit current and future customers. The sale will also further the CPUC’S Water Action Plan objective for larger investor-owned water utilities to acquire and upgrade small water systems throughout the state of California to maintain the highest standards of water quality and service.”
The application has been assigned to judges who are to review it before making a decision that will be discussed and voted upon at a CPUC meeting.
For more information about Liberty Park Water, call (800) 727-5987 or visit libertyutilities.com.
LCF’s Mesa Crest Water Co. Being Sold
