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CONTACT: Kyle DeVine             April 19, 1996   CPUC - 516
         213-897-4225                             (Res. W-3982)

       CPUC APPROVES SUBURBAN'S SAN JOSE-WHITTIER DISTRICT
                        REVENUE INCREASE

    The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved
today combining Suburban Water Systems (Suburban) San Jose Hills
and Whittier/La Mirada districts and increasing revenues by
$1,097,400 or 4.25 percent in 1996, effective in five days.
    Suburban serves 65,000 customers in the area which includes
Glendora, Covina, West Covina, La Puente, Valinda, Industry,
Hacienda Heights, Whittier, La Mirada, La Habra and Buena Park.
The increase covers increased operating costs.
    At public meetings the Commission held to hear the public's
concerns about the request, customers currently in the San Jose
Hills district - which includes Glendora, La Puente, Covina, and
La Habra Heights - requested their rates remain lower than the
Whittier district because it cost the company less to serve them.
    The Commission approved gradually increasing the San
Jose Hills customer charge over the next three years until it is
the same as the charge in the Whittier area.  The customer charge
covers fixed costs, such as meter reading, which costs the same
for both districts; however, the water usage rate will be less in
the San Jose Hills area.
    In the San Jose Hills area, the customer charge will be
increased by 45 cents, from the current $5.40  to $5.85 this
year.  In 1997, it will increase to $6.20, and in 1998 it will be
$6.55. The usage rate for the San Jose area 1 - the largest area
and includes property less than 547 feet above sea level - will
increase 6 cents, from the current 78 cents per hundred cubic
feet to 84 cents per hundred cubic feet this year.  Customers who
use the systemwide average of 1,800 cubic feet of water a month
will see an increase of $1.51 this year, from the current $19.42
to $20.93.

                             -more-

    In the Whittier area, the customer charge will increase by 15
cents, from the current $6.25 to $6.40 this year.  By 1998, it
will be $6.55.  The water usage rate for area 2 - the largest
area and generally property between 300 to 800 feet above sea
level - will increase one cent per hundred cubic feet, from the
current $1.07 per hundred cubic feet to $1.08.  Customers who use
the systemwide average of 1,800 cubic feet of water a month will
see an increase in the monthly bill of 35 cents, from the current
$25.53 to $25.88.                      -###-