Aug. 13--The highest water rates in the CSRA have been reinstated by the Public Service Commission (PSC), meaning Graniteville and Vaucluse residents are liable for their increased water and sewer bills for at least the next few months.

The commission met Wednesday to hear if any progress had been made between system owner Avondale Mills and an arbiter. Both sides expressed that hard work and good faith negotiations had taken place; however, local state delegates had a harsh, opposing view.

"I don't believe there has been good faith negotiations ... Avondale has backed away from the table and refused to talk," said Sen. Shane Massey. "I want you to know very little has been done."

Rep. Tom Young said the same of the former mill owners -- that while Avondale physically attended negotiations, representatives rejected any compromise offer and countered only with the demand that customers pay the full, current rate.

Young also expressed disappointment in the PSC for unanimously accepting the motion to reinstate the rates without any discussion.

In July, residents of the two hamlets were surprised by water and sewer bill rates rising from the cheapest to the highest in the CSRA.

Along with the increased rates, residents reported that their usage, which had not been changed in months or even years, suddenly jumped. Bills jumped 700 percent in some cases, with rates topping out above $700 for some and water usage estimate as high as 40,000 gallons -- the equivalent of 800 baths a month. The average customer statewide uses 6,000 gallons monthly.

Last week, the PSC suspended the rates as well as any penalties or cutoffs while the negotiations took place.

A half dozen residents attended the meeting but there was no public comment.

Rep. Roland Smith described Avondale's attitude to Graniteville as, "We've got our money, we're leaving."

"It's wrong. It may be legal, but it's wrong," Smith said. "In God's eyes, it's wrong. They have taken advantage of people."

Smith went further saying that the PSC allowing the rates was an endorsement of this attitude.

Avondale successfully appealed to the PSC earlier this year on grounds that they were losing $500,000 a year on the system and that rates had not increased since 1980.

Wednesday, the PSC said they now had no choice but to reinstate the rates.

A possible solution to the rate increase could come Oct. 6, when the PSC will hold a hearing in Columbia to hear evidence whether the rates are fair. However, this would, most likely, leave residents dealing with the new rate system until 2010, even if it is adjudged unfair.

Locals are hoping for "the best solution" for system customers to happen long before that meeting. This would be a takeover by nearby water supplier Valley Public Service Authority (VPS).

The takeover deal is very close to completion, Young said Wednesday. This would involve Avondale giving the system to VPS; however, the 80- to 100-year-old system would need $12 million to $15 million to upgrade it to a viable standard.

VPS has said it is unanimously in favor of taking over the utility, but there must be funding in place to replace the leaking water system and refurbish sewer facilities.

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