$37 million in refunds coming after judge rules Riverside was illegally using water revenues

Riverside Public Utilities customers will be eligible for more than $37 million in refunds, after Superior Court judges found the city has been illegally transferring 11.5% of water revenues to pay for other basic city services.

The decision came earlier this month, when Superior Court Judge Harold W. Hopp ruled in a case brought by Riverside residents in 2019.

The lawsuit alleged the city of Riverside was violating state Proposition 218 by overcharging ratepayers to generate excess water profits for purposes unrelated to providing water. The 1996 law prevents utilities from charging customers more than the actual cost of service.

In May 2023, Judge Craig Riemer ruled the city’s practice violated the law, but didn’t rule on whether the residents who brought the suit had been damaged by Riverside transferring revenues.

The Dec. 3 ruling says customers are eligible for at least [CONTINUE READING]