The Golden State Water Co., a monopoly in its service areas, has submitted yet another application to the state's Public Utilities Commission for more than a 21-percent increase in rates in 2013 to offset lower profits caused by a drop in water consumption and for system upkeep. If its proposal is approved, that rate would be followed by 3-percent increases in 2014 and 2015. A large portion of the rate hike is said to be due to lost profit, which ratepayers are being burdened to shoulder. This rate increase is on top of a prior rate increase requested three years ago, during the latest drought. As a result of that rate increase, most of us have seen a shocking hike in just the most recent billing period--during an already burdensome economy. The Public Utilities Commission can approve the water company's proposal as is, deny it altogether, or it can order that the increases be lower than what the company requested. Residents of the Foothill Community of North Tustin strongly advise the PUC to review the monopolistic business practices of Golden State Water Co, deny these rates and reversing the most recent and obscene increases that have had an immediate impact on our community and our neighbors.