Modesto, CA – Last week, the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) received a favorable ruling from the Stanislaus County Superior Court (see attached) in the remedies phase of a challenge to the District’s electric rates. While the court designated the plaintiffs – Andrew Hobbs and David Thomas, et. all – as the prevailing party, the court found that the plaintiff class is not entitled any refunds as MID’s 2018 Cost of Service Analysis proved that the 2016 rates in question were below the cost of service.
MID will be evaluating next steps to formally conclude this case.
“We presented a strong record of evidence in support of our rate-making practices,” said MID General Manager Ed Franciosa. “Ultimately, the court adopted our reasoning, quoted our findings throughout the ruling, and deemed our experts more credible.”
In the spirit of transparency and openness, the District engaged with independent, third-party industry experts to review its rate making practices. These experts performed a 2018 Electric Cost of Service and Revenue Allocation Study as part of a broader analysis of the cost of service for all of MID’s lines of business – electricity, irrigation, and domestic water.
This independent review provided valuable analysis including more than 100 pages of reports, spreadsheets, and background to confirm MID’s electric rates.
“The court’s ruling upholds MID’s local rate-making methods and reinforces our mission of providing the highest level of service at the lowest possible cost,” said MID Board President Larry Byrd. “The Board is elected by the customers we serve, and we will continue to preserve fair and balanced rates for all.”
MID’s rates, budgets, and audited financial statements are available on MID's website.
Media Contact
Melissa Williams | Email Melissa Williams | (209) 526-7390
About the Modesto Irrigation District (MID)
The Modesto Irrigation District, established in 1887, is a vertically integrated public utility located in California’s Central Valley. MID provides irrigation water to more than 2,300 agricultural accounts irrigating close to 60,000 acres and electricity to more than 131,000 residential, commercial, and agricultural accounts in Modesto, Empire, Salida, Waterford, and Mountain House as well as parts of Escalon, Oakdale, Ripon, and Riverbank. MID also treats, delivers, and wholesales up to approximately 67,000 acre-feet of drinking water per year to the City of Modesto. For more information about MID visit MID's website or follow MID's Facebook Page and MID's X (Twitter).