SAN JOSE, Calif., March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Friday, March 13, 2026, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a proposed decision (PD) on the 2024 General Rate Case of California Water Service (2024 California GRC), the largest subsidiary of California Water Service Group ((Company or Group, NYSE:CWT).

The PD authorizes additional revenues of $92.3 million in 2026 (a rate increase of 11.1%); $50.8 million in 2027 (a rate increase of 5.5%); and $52.4 million in 2028 (a rate increase of 5.4%).

The final infrastructure investment budget for 2025 through 2027 was not included in the PD; however, the Company anticipates it will be provided as an attachment to the final decision.

Although the PD does not authorize the Company's request to decouple sales from revenues to promote conservation and lower water rates for low-income, low-water-using customers, it does reauthorize a Monterey-Style Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism and water production incremental cost balancing accounts.

It also establishes a sales reconciliation mechanism, which will allow the Company to adjust sales forecasts on an annual basis, and approves a rate design that is expected to better enable the Company to recover fixed costs regardless of water sales.

"We appreciate the timely issuance of the PD and look forward to making oral arguments, providing written comments, and having clarifying discussions with the Commission to achieve a closer alignment ...