The Oregon Public Utility Commission will host a virtual public comment hearing at 6 p.m on April 26 for Crooked River Ranch Water Company customers to comment on a proposed increase to water rates.

Crooked River Ranch Water Company has requested to increase rates by 33 percent. If the increase is approved, it would increase an average residential customer of the CRR Water Company by about $16 — from $47.67 a month currently to about $63.63 per month. If approved, the new rates could go into effect as early as Dec. 24.

Crooked River Ranch Water Company has not increased rates since 2015. The company said the price hike is needed “due to an increase in operating costs for the utility, which includes the addition of full-time field staff and increased costs of goods overall,” according to the PUC.

Crooked River Ranch Water Company’s general rate change request will be fully investigated on behalf of water customers. This public comment hearing is part of that investigation, which will conclude when the Commissioners rule on the request.

Crooked River Ranch Water customers and other interested persons may provide verbal comments via Zoom or phone on Wednesday, April 26 from 6-7 p.m.

View the meeting notice to link to the Zoom session at https://bit.ly/41kyWPy. Or you can call 1-669-254-5252 and type in the meeting ID of 161 691 1392 and the passcode 4098933670.

You can submit written and recorded commented by May 26. Email PublicComments@puc.oregon.gov or call 503-378-6600. Comments can also be mailed to Oregon Public Utility Commission, Attn: AHD – UW 194, PO Box 1088, Salem, OR 97308-1088.