AIKEN --- Graniteville residents are still watching their water meters, timing their showers and letting their lawns stay brown.
"We've just cut back everything," said Vicki Johnson. "You just learn to live within your means."
A year after Avondale Mills customers saw water rates spike, they still see higher-than-average bills from their new company, Valley Public Service Authority, but not as bad as they were at their peak.
Johnson and her husband, Wayne, were among more than 550 customers who fought back last year when water rates jumped without warning. Customers who averaged bills of $15 to $20 a month saw them spike to well above $200, and in some cases, past $500.
The Johnsons, retirees who live on a fixed income, quickly changed habits to adapt. Their monthly bills have since dropped from over $200 to around $100.
Avondale Mills, which closed its Graniteville plant in 2006, bought the water and sewer system in 1996 from Graniteville Co. Before last summer, rates hadn't changed since 1980.
"The mill had supported the water and the sewer system and the rates to customers were artificially low," said Dukes Scott, of the state Public Service Commission. "When the mill closed, they lost all that revenue without losing all that expense."
Aiken County Sheriff and Graniteville resident Mike Hunt and neighbor Joe Taylor filed a suit against Avondale Mills, arguing that residents weren't given proper notice and shouldn't have to pay higher bills.
After a year-long battle with Avondale Mills, they lost. But service was turned over to the Valley Public Service Authority in February, with the promise that higher rates would help fund much-needed repairs to the water and sewerage systems.
The silver lining to the black cloud was that the authority's takeover was timed perfectly to qualify for federal stimulus money, which will pay for portions of the $13 million in sewerage upgrades.
"I don't know what we would have done if they wouldn't have taken us on," said Vicki Johnson. "We realize they didn't have to and although rates are higher now, we would have had even higher bills with Avondale -- without any of the work."
State Sen. Shane Massey said the community still has hard feelings toward Avondale Mills, but if the only thing accomplished was moving ownership to the VPSA, then it was still a victory for residents.
"It was just a poor, overall process because Avondale had made really no investment in those sewer lines," he said. "Over the years, it was just enough to comply with DHEC (Department of Health and Environmental Control) and the infrastructure was so antiquated."
Massey and Rep. Roland Smith succeeded in passing legislation in May that will add two members -- from Graniteville and Vaucluse -- to the nine-member VPSA board. Massey said he expects those appointments to be made in the next two weeks.
Water rates are expected to be re-evaluated at the end of the summer, according to VPSA general manager Calvin Smith, but users likely won't see a dramatic decrease in their bills until work is completed in 2011.
1996: Avondale Mills buys the water and sewer system from Graniteville Co. It provided water to 616 customers and sewerage to 496 customers.
2006: Avondale closes its Graniteville plant.
JULY 2009: Water customers start getting high water bills, some increasing more than 700 percent.
AUGUST 2009: Second Circuit Judge Jack Early temporarily halts the implementation of new rates after customers protest, saying they weren't given adequate notice.
SEPT. 2009: Avondale Mills appeals Early's decision to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
NOV. 2009: The Supreme Court rules in favor of Avondale.
FEBRUARY: Valley Public Service Authority acquires the water system from Avondale. Contractors embark on a three-year project to upgrade the more-than-80-year-old infrastructure.
Source: The Augusta Chronicle archives
Nobody complained about the highly subsidized water bills over the past 30 years but when they have to pay the market rate for their water and infrastructure, they stick it to the PSA and make ALL taxpayers pay for the $13 million they were subsidized over the years. Sickening.
"Graniteville residents are still watching their water meters, timing their showers and letting their lawns stay brown."
Like the rest of us have done for years?
You know, the state government is spending years and hundreds of thousands of dollars for consultants to find out how to get Atlantans to conserve water so the mussels and oysters in Florida get enough fresh water. All they have to do is raise the rates to Graniteville levels and the problem will solve itself.
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