A San Francisco superior court judge ruled late Friday that the Metropolitan Water District owes the San Diego County Water Authority a total of $231.7 million in a long-running suit over rates.
The San Diego authority, which this year will import 57 percent of its water from the Los Angeles-based MWD, had accused its supplier of overcharging from 2011 to 2014.
Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow ruled the San Diego authority is due $43.4 million in interest and $188.3 million in overcharged amounts.
“MWD has dragged out this case for years, and the price tag for its illegal rates and failed litigation strategy continues to grow,” said Mark Weston, chair of the San Diego authority’s board of directors. “This ruling should serve as another strong signal to MWD that its current rate structure is illegal and should be immediately reformed to comply with state law and the California Constitution.”
The court found that the San Diego authority had been unnecessarily paying the MWD for water purchased from the Imperial Irrigation District and for water conserved by lining the All-American and Coachella canals in the Imperial Valley.
