July 22,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, as expected Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia has found in favor of three municipalities that sued the village of Ridgewood over 31 percent increased water rates for the years 2010-2012.
Judge Friscia agreed with the plaintiffs on Thursday and determined that Ridgewood had enacted rate increases for Ridgewood Water customers that were “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable” and must recalculate the rates and refund its customers.
The plaintiffs, Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff,all serviced by Ridgewood Water, a water utility owned and operated by the Village of Ridgewood. These municipalities claimed in their lawsuit that Ridgewood had overcharged customers millions of dollars through rate hikes to offset village of Ridgewood operating expenses.
Perez Friscia ordered three Ridgewood water-rate ordinances be invalidated. She further ordered that the matter be remanded to the village of Ridgewood for a hearing to recalculate water rates within 120 days. Refunds will be calculated based on the difference between what was charged and the actual costs as determined by the recalculation.
