According to the Department, Johnson Utilities is the most cited private utility company since 2017. It received almost 300 complaints against the company.
The Department wants the Maricopa County Superior Court to order the water company to pay civil penalty of not more than $25,000 per day for every violation pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes Section 49-262 (C). It is also seeking a civil penalty not to exceed $500 per day for every violation pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes 49-354 (G).
The ADEQ also included Hunt MGT and Ultra Management as defendants in the lawsuit.
Currently, EPCOR USA is temporarily managing the operations of Johnson Utilities. The Arizona Corporation Commission appointed EPCOR as interim manager due to concerns regarding the water company’s billing practices, infrastructure condition and financial management. In 2018, the Commission investigated numerous complaints involving its Section 11 Wastewater Treatment Plant.
