LUCERNE, Calif. – Lucerne residents gathered at Lucerne Harbor Park on Saturday to stage a protest against their climbing water rates.
California Water Service Co., which services the town, is currently in negotiations to raise rates across the state, is seeking a 57 percent rate increase in 2014, with the potential for additional increases in 2015 and 2016, according to the corporation's general rate case.
The county of Lake has become a party in the case in an effort to get lower rates for the town, which has seen a number of significant rate hikes since Cal Water took over the system in 2000.
Town residents at the Saturday rally reported paying increasingly large rates for their basic needs.
Hear their stories in the video above.