Texans Against Monopolies' Excessive Rates - TAMER

TAMER Financial Crisis
By now you should be feeling the impact of the new Monarch rates. If we do nothing not only will these rates become permanent but there will be another increase of 4.5% in June. TAMER is ready to challenge these increases but cannot do it without your financial support.

TAMER will be attending the first hearings in April on our current rate case against Monarch Utilities. This will be before the TCEQ as before. The PUC involvement in rate cases will not start until 2015 however TAMER Board is petitioning OPUC (The Office of Public Council) to intervene in the up and coming rate case. In the 2011 rate case, the efforts of TAMER saved a 5000 gallon ratepayer $547 until our new rates started in Jan, 2014.

Our main problem NOW is we do not have enough money to effectively pursue this case.

We have enough petitions certified with the TCEQ to fight the case, and we appreciate everyone's help with that project. BUT, just signing a petition is not enough. If you do not contribute, you do not have any "SKIN IN THE GAME".
Please help TAMER with your donations. They may come from individuals, HOA/POA groups or both. If you have already donated THANK YOU if not, please consider donating as we cannot be successful without your help.

Donations can be sent directly to:

TAMER
P.O. Box 1590
Chandler, TX 75758

Or going on-line and making a donation through the TAMER web site at:
Website:
http://www.tamertx.org
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3HYWENC5M5SPL

Thanks, TAMER Board of Directors

Members of the TAMER board will be traveling to Austin to participate in these hearings at their own expense. The only expenses TAMER has are Attorney Fees.
T.A.M.E.R.
Texans Against Monopolies Excessive Rates
P.O. Box 1590
Chandler, Texas 75758
Phone 903-849-4689
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.tamertx.org

Home | Welcome To TAMER T.A.M.E.R. is an all-volunteer organization devoted to the interests of consumers (ratepayers) of water and sewer services provided by both investor owned utilities (IOUʼs) and privately owned water companies. We presently represent over 20 thousand ratepayers of Southwest Water Company (SWWC), Whic...

TAMER FINANCIAL CRISIS

TAMER will be attending the first hearings in April on our current rate case against Monarch Utilities. This will be before the TCEQ as before.
The PUC involvement in rate cases will not start until 2015 however TAMER Board is petitioning OPUC (The Office of Public Council) to intervene in the up and coming rate case. In the 2011 rate case, the efforts of TAMER saved a 5000 gallon ratepayer $547 until our new rates started in Jan, 2014. Our main problem NOW is we do not have enough money to effectively pursue this case.
We have enough petitions certified with the TCEQ to fight the case, and we appreciate everyone's help with that project. BUT, just signing a petition is not enough. If you do not contribute, you do not have any "SKIN IN THE GAME". Please help TAMER with your donations. They may come from individuals, HOA/POA groups or both.
Donations can be sent directly to:

TAMER
P.O. Box 1590
Chandler, TX 75758

Thanks, TAMER Board of Directors
Members of the TAMER board will be traveling to Austin to participate in these hearings at their own expense. The only expense TAMER has is Attorney Fees.

We need as many as possible on our side in order to fight to keep our rates low! Invite your friends to like our page!

Earlier this month, Monarch Utilities filed a request for a water rate increase with the TCEQ. The cost to us all is appalling. Now is the time more than ever to fight to keep water prices low. Please RSVP to attend the annual meeting on October 5th in Chandler.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/09/11/5154630/blue-mound-water-rates-may-jump.html =cpy

Blue Mound water rates may jump double digits | Fort Worth | News from Fort Worth, Dalla... Monarch Utilities seeks 14.4 percent water rate hike after legislation allowing Blue Mound to take over system is vetoed.

Interesting Wall Street Journal Article, Towns Try to Take Back Privately Owned Water Systems

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323455104579015413267372616.html

Towns Try to Take Back Privately Owned Water Systems Water fights are simmering in small towns across the country this summer, as rate increases irk residents and spur local governments to try to take over privately owned water systems.

Save the date! TAMER's annual meeting is set for Saturday, October 5th.

We'll be meeting at West Lake Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 1439 FM 315 South, Chandler, Texas 75758. Registration will be at 11AM, and lunch will be served at 11:30 (suggested donation of $8/plate). Business meeting to follow, and we'll have everyone out the door and on their way by 4PM at the latest.

Please RSVP to let us know you'll be there, and be sure to bring your neighbors who are interested in TAMER's mission!

Fighting to keep water rates low is impossible without the support of a strong membership. Please consider making a donation to TAMER today in support of our cause. http://www.tamertx.org/donations.html

Donations | Welcome To TAMER Taking a stand against the IOUs next session is impossible without the support of a strong membership. Rallying legislative support for our ideas is costly, but the price of failure is even greater. Please consider making a donation to T.A.M.E.R. today in support of our cause.

Clear your calendars! The annual meeting has been postponed from July 20th until a saturday in either September or October. More to come in a few days once the details are settled.

The last sentence says it all.

http://ireader.olivesoftware.com/Olive/iReader/StarTelegramPress/SharedArticle.ashx?document=FWST%5C2013%5C06%5C20&article=Ar02405

Perry quick on the draw with veto pen in Blue Mound water case Once again, Gov. Rick Perry has used his veto power to strike a blow for free enterprise and business, this time to strike down a bill that would have made it easier for tiny Blue Mound to one day manage its own water needs.

While we did get two of the water bills passed and they will be of help going down the road this is another example of not being able to get everything we fought for.

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/19/texas-town-upset-governors-water-veto/

North Texas Town Upset With Perry's Veto of Water System Measure, by Kate Galbraith State Rep. Charlie Geren and leaders in the North Texas town of Blue Mound are upset that Gov. Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for the town to gain control of its water system, which is currently in private hands.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Legislature-moves-investor-owned-water-utility-4555285.php

Legislature moves investor-owned water utility rate cases to PUC âCustomers of for-profit water companies are up in arms over unreasonable rate-increase actions taken by water companies and the great favoritism that current Texas law and regulation gives to the water companies,â said Larry Westfall of the Kerrville South Community Action Group. Sena...

Interesting press release re: HB 4. While this bill does not affect TAMER now, it may in the future. http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/18577/

Office of the Governor Rick Perry - [Press Release] Gov. Perry Signs Landmark Water Legislation Gov. Rick Perry today ceremonially signed House Bill 4, which lays the foundation for meeting Texas’ water future water needs. HB 4 provides for active, full-time governance at the Texas Water Development Board; creates a new funding mechanism to support water-supply project implementation over the…