CONSOLIDATION!

This evening, after about four hours of debate and comment, the Arizona Corporation Commission voted, four to one, in favor of consolidation of EPCOR's wastewater districts.  The decision will go into effect as of July 1st.

The Commission adopted the judge's Recommended Opinion, which will bring all EPCOR wastewater customers to the same rate, gradually, over the course of five years.  For Verrado, that means our current $71 wastewater fee will go down, once a year, until we settle somewhere around $38.  The first increment, taking effect in July, is expected to be somewhere around $63.

We don't know the exact final numbers because there were a number of amendments submitted and approved by commissioners that impact EPCOR's bottom line.  Those still need to be calculated out. As soon as we have those details, we'll put them out.

Your July bill will be split between the old rate and the new rate, since the change takes effect mid-way through the billing cycle.  Come August, you'll see the full effect of the change.

Make no mistake, this was a landmark decision for the state of Arizona.  This was the result of three years' worth of work, dozens of volunteers, hundreds of residents passing the word, signing letters, and showing up, and a strong partnership between the UC and the Verrado Community Association, as well as DMB.  Together, this community, along with our fellow communities across Agua Fria and Anthem, made it happen.