By Town Crier Staff Report

California Water Service, supplier of water service to Los Altos and parts of Los Altos Hills, has filed a request with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to increase water rates by 14.2 percent in 2002, 4.6 percent in 2003, 4.0 percent in 2004 and 3.9 percent in 2005.

Company officials say they are seeking these proposed increases to cover the increased cost of providing water service: the higher costs of power, purchased water, labor and water quality testing.

The decision on the current application is expected sometime in mid-2002.

Under currently authorized rates, a monthly residential metered customer using 23 cubic feet of water is billed $44.41 in Cal Water’s Los Altos District. If the rate request is approvd, the bill would increase to $50.72 in 2002, $52.88 in 2003, $55.01 in 2004 and $57.17 in 2005.