Background

This proceeding consolidates three applications representing three California operating areas of Dominguez Water Company (Dominguez), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominguez Services Corporation.

Dominguez' subsidiaries Arden Water Company and Antelope Valley Water Company (the latter through its subsidiary, Kernville Domestic Water Company) operate jointly to do business as Kern River Valley Water Company (KRVWC). KRVWC provides water service to approximately 4,100 customers through nine small systems in the Kernville/Lake Isabella area (Kern County). KRVWC's last general rate increase was by Decision (D.) 94-04-074 in 1994. Two of its systems, Lakeland and Southlake, were acquired since that time and have not had general rate increases since 1983 and 1995 respectively. KRVWC is the subject of Application (A.) 99-05-020.

Antelope Valley Water Company also serves approximately 1,250 customers of its own in the Antelope Valley areas of Lancaster, Leona Valley, Fremont Valley and Lake Hughes north of Los Angeles. Antelope Valley Water Company seeks a general rate increase for its operation serving these customers, referred to in the proceeding as AVWC, in A.99-05-023. AVWC's last general rate increase was authorized by D.94-05-044 in 1994.

Dominguez serves approximately 32,400 water customers in the cities of Carson and Torrance and an industrial subdivision in Compton (Los Angeles County) through its South Bay Division (Dominguez SBD), the subject of A.99-05-024. Dominguez SBD's last general rate increase was authorized by D.92-12-056 in 1992.

Dominguez also serves 1,900 customers in Northern California through its Redwood Valley Division. Redwood Valley Division is not involved in this proceeding.

While these three applications were pending, the Commission was also considering an application for merger between Dominguez Services Corporation and California Water Service Group, parent of California Water Service Company. That merger proposal, now approved by D.00-05-047, had no effect on this general rate case proceeding. Any authority granted in this decision to Applicants should be understood to apply to their successors in interest if and when the merger has been consummated.