Some important information appears to have been left out of the recent article in The Fountain Hills Times concerning the EPCOR public information meeting for questions and answers.

As stated in the article, only a handful of citizens attended the meeting to listen and ask questions. Well, that handful of citizens was me and only me. The article in The Times seemed to look like a handout provided by EPCOR.

Whether you realize it or not, the current rate increase request submitted to the ACC is a 32 percent to 35 percent increase to an average home’s water bill. You should read the 2013 Application To Adjust Rates article on the Internet for more information (http://www.epcor.com/outreach/Pages/chaparral-rate-application.aspx).

One question that we should ask is why EPCOR operates two wells when 90 percent of the water consumed in Fountain Hills comes from the Colorado River.

I would also like to know the total water usage and operating cost for each year since the last rate application increase was submitted. The reason behind that question is that operating cost against water usage is the main factor for the rate increase as explained at the meeting.

Has our water usage really decreased that much or has EPCOR’s operating cost increased above the cost of living? I can understand passing on the increase from the CAP and SRP increases, but not much more than that. Please attend the next meeting and ask questions.