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Chattanooga: Coalition to fight water rate increase

By: Dave Flessner
(Contact)

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Local government and business leaders announced today they are forming a coalition to “Fight the Hike” in water rates proposed by the Tennessee-American Water Co.

The city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County governments along with members of the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association will fund the campaign urging state regulators to cut the 20.4 percent increase in water rates requested by the utility.

Staff Photo by Meghan Brown
Chattanooga mayor Ron Littlefield, left, speaks today at a press conference to fight the water rate hike from Tennessee American Water Company. Also pictured is Randy Baker, the chair of the Fight the Hike campaign, at right, during the media event held at Coolidge Park.

Mayor Ron Littlefield called the latest rate request by Tennessee-American “excessive” following another double-digit rate increase last year.

Chattanooga businessman Randy Baker, chair of the “Fight the Hike” campaign, said if the latest rate increase is adopted water costs will have jumped by 35.1 percent in just over a year.

“How can Tennessee-American justify an increase of this magnitude when the average family is struggling to scrape together money to keep gas in their car, food on their table and mortgage payments current?” Mr. Baker asked during a news conference on the banks of the Tennessee River.

But John Watson, general manager for Tennessee-American, said those rising costs for electricity, natural gas and commodities are also pushing up costs for Tennessee-American to treat and pump water throughout Chattanooga.

The proposed increase, even if fully adopted by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, would still cost the typical Chattanooga household only $3.65 more a month, Mr. Watson said. That will still leave the cost of a gallon of water under a penny, he said.

Read more in tomorrow’s Times Free Press

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