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10 News overview of UCAN's legal fight with the City of San Diego Water Dept.
UCAN News
10News.com water story "Overcharged by Millions" explains
how UCAN ended up returning $35 million to ratepayers.
This brief story by Joe Little of 10news.com (KGTV) explains how in 2004, UCAN uncovered a multi-million dollar water billing scam. UCAN's legal action against the the City of San Diego Water Department exposed how the city gave large corporations a huge break on water costs at the expense of residential ratepayers.
With the help of a whistleblower, UCAN filed a lawsuit in 2005, demanding that the money be returned to ratepayers.
In 2006, the city of San Diego settled and offered to credit residents $35 million. As a part of the settlement UCAN has the option of inserting notices into City Water Department bills soliciting voluntary funds for independent reviews of future rate hikes. According to UCAN's executive director, Michael Shames, what the City calls a billing error "Was not honest and it wasn't a mistake. It was a calculated decision by the San Diego city council to placate the interests of large, industrial customers and have residential customers foot the bill," said Shames. Get the full 10 news story and video here.
Related Story: UCAN will insert notices into City Water bills
Water: Water and Sewer Rates - 2006 Sewer Refund -
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