Report 2013-126 Recommendation 13 Responses

Report 2013-126: Antelope Valley Water Rates: Various Factors Contribute to Differences Among Water Utilities (Release Date: July 2014)

Recommendation #13 To: Quartz Hill Water District

To assist low-income water customers, Quartz Hill Water District should work with its governing body to consider the feasibility of using revenues from sources other than water rates to implement rate assistance programs for low-income water customers.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From December 2018

QHWD has reviewed the process of using other monies to assist low-income water customers, and the Board of Directors and staff have not discovered a practical way of implementing this.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

We stand by our recommendation as stated in our report.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2017

Same response as the previous year.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

We stand by our recommendation. As noted in our 60-day, 6-month, and one-year assessments, Quartz Hill has failed to perform a legal or financial assessment to determine whether or not it is feasible to use revenues from sources other than water rates to implement rate assistance programs for low-income water customers. We would expect Quartz Hill to complete this assessment before determining it will not implement the recommendation.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015

During our February Meeting the low-income assist program was discussed and the Board of Directors instructed staff to not proceed with further investigation of this matter at this time.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

1-Year Agency Response

During our February Meeting the low-income assist program was discussed and the Board of Directors instructed staff to not proceed with further investigation of this matter at this time.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement

We still stand by our recommendation. As noted in our 60-day and 6-month assessments, Quartz Hill has failed to perform a legal or financial assessment to determine whether or not it is feasible to use revenues from sources other than water rates to implement rate assistance programs for low-income water customers. We would expect Quartz Hill to complete this assessment before determining it will not implement the recommendation.

6-Month Agency Response

During our February Meeting the low-income assist program was discussed and the Board of Directors instructed staff to not proceed with further investigation of this matter at this time.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Will Not Implement

We still stand by our recommendation. As noted in our 60-day assessment, Quartz Hill has failed to perform a legal or financial assessment to determine whether or not it is feasible to use revenues from sources other than water rates to implement rate assistance programs for low-income water customers. We would expect Quartz Hill to complete this assessment before determining it will not implement the recommendation.

60-Day Agency Response

During the July Board of Director Meeting this finding was discussed with the Board of Directors and at this time they do not wish to implement this finding.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Will Not Implement

We stand by our recommendation. Quartz Hill Water District has failed to perform a legal or financial assessment to determine whether or not it is feasible to use revenues from sources other than water rates to implement rate assistance programs for low-income water customers. We would expect Quartz Hill to complete this assessment before determining it will not implement the recommendation.

All Recommendations in 2013-126

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.