News 12 at 11 o'clock, August 6, 2009

GRANITEVILLE, S.C.---It's been in the works for almost a year, a rate increase for Avondale Mills water customers. The company says they told people about the increase months ago.

The state granted them the increase in June, but customers like those in Graniteville and Vaucluse were not expecting the increase they got, which was a rate hike of more than 700 percent.

The state public service commission has suspended those increases, at least for now.

Thursday night more than 100 Graniteville-Vaucluse customers came together. They say, they knew an increase was possible but they still aren't sure why it's so much and why they feel they had no warning.

The hundred or so who came out to Thursday night wanted answers. They wanted to know their options to fight these water bills.

Thursday afternoon the streets of Graniteville are quiet. No sprinklers, no one out watering. And that's because many are at a public meeting talking about the recent water bill increase.

"They're going over the top! " Says supporter Chuck Jones.

Jeff Toole's bill went up $74, but his mother-in-law's went up about $500.

"She called my wife and was in tears. Until they suspended it, we figured they were gonna turn her water off," says Vaucluse resident Jeff Toole.

Many with questions about why their water and sewage bills were 7 times what they were last month.

"It's just ridiculous and of course a lot of people can't pay it. I mean, literally they don't have the money to pay it," says Brenda Tweed, who's bill went from $30 to $400.

"A reasonable rate increase is what they say they did, but this was somewhat unreasonable, I think," says state representative Roland Smith.

The state public service commission granted Avondale Mills the increase in June. Since they can no longer subsidize the water, they say they were losing nearly $500,000 per year.

"I think a reasonable increase is justified but not what they've done now," adds Tweed.

Valley Public Service, another water company, did say they have interest in taking over Avondale Mills, but even they won't touch it when it owes half a million dollars.

"You just can't afford to let it run anymore, especially with these water bills," says Toole.

Many in this room hoping to come together again, to fight.

"Somebody needs to stand up there and wave these numbers in front of those commissioners," encourages Jones.

"I'm pretty sure there's a room full of people that's willing to go up there and fight for this," says Tom Sperringer.

There is another meeting Wednesday in Columbia about all this.
That's when the public service commission hopes to have a decision.