x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:04:23 -0400 thread-index: AdGAf9Gk/QOY05TgRLC6B2VEDYdvHg== Thread-Topic: CPW Utility Company Water and Sewer From: To: Subject: CPW Utility Company Water and Sewer Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:04:23 -0400 Message-ID: <18045FF3695941A384D9B622A2C12B04@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 17 Mar 2016 19:04:23.0889 (UTC) FILETIME=[D1C33C10:01D1807F] CUSTOM Ms. Vivian L Lang 220 Challedon Drive Summerville SC 29485 vllangvllang@yahoo.com 843-568-4118 BOARDS CPW Utility Company Water and Sewer 98.25.67.37 Nature of Problem: CPW is doing a pilot program (60 Homes) installing digital water meters. They put a notice on our doors on March 14th. This notice informs customers that the digital meters will be installed and locked so customer will not longer have access to the meters to turn off their water. Customers need to hire a plumber to come and install a water shut off value between the meter and our home or wait until a CPW representative is available to come and unlock the box and turn off the water while our house is flooding if we do not have a shut off valve. In a South Carolina emergency ie Hurricane or freezing event etc., it could take days for a CPW employee to be available. Under the best circumstances our homes would be badly damaged. I looked on Lowes and Home Depo online to obtain a shut off valve (not that I can put one in) but to see what they had available and get a materials cost. What I found for in ground shut off valve was a meter key or under the sink type shut off valves nothing that could be done by an individual. When I talked to CPW trying to resolve the issue I was told that it was county code that houses have shut off valves. In part this is true. When a house is built the builder is required to install a shut off valve. But that is the end of it. Homes are not required to maintain a working shut off valve after that. The homes in the pilot program are at least 30 year old or older and no longer have these original shut off valves. Many have had new plumbing lines put in and the only thing installed was clean out valves. The area they have picked for this pilot program is a low income ethnic area, who can not afford the quotes Plumbers installation fees as follows. Before they will come out they charge a 39.00 dispatch fee to assess the cost of installing the valve. Then the estimate is between 250 and 450 dollars if they don't hit an obstacle such as tree roots or other problems. This is a quote from a plumber that CPW listed on their notice. This is outrageous. A majority of the homes in the pilot program are rental homes and since the only notice that has been give is a paper on the door the owners of these rental properties have not been notified. I have currently got a petition of approximately 1/3 of the residents as all I have contacted have signed the petition but one who was a man with dementia and was afraid to open the door. I tried contact the town counsel but he notices were given out just after the town counsel meeting and CPW stated the meters will be installed before the next town counsel meeting. I was told by City officials that the water company has too much power to be able to fight this issue. He did offer to try and find someone to install the shut off valve for me but this still leaves all my neighbors without help and I have not heard back from him. I contact the public utility commission, (OPS) who oversees and regulates water companies and found out they do not regulate this one. How is that possible???? CPW has not been forthcoming with a dispute resolution or informed me where I can lodge a grievance but I do know there is a limited amount of time to do this. I am hoping you can assist me and my neighbors in stopping this pilot program. If I can not I will be going to Live 5 news and let them know just how much power this company has and that no government officials are able to assist in stopping this company from attacking an under privileged select group of people. Several of my neighbors are pursuing different avenues of resolution with no success. I am currently acting on their behalf as well. Thank Vivian Lang 843-568-4118