(Disclosure: Rose Law Group represents landowners and homebuilders working with the ACC to find a utility solution in the Johnson Utilities service area.)
By Ryan Randazzo | Arizona Republic
EPCOR USA has acquired the troubled Johnson Utilities water and sewer company in the East Valley, ending a decades-long saga between the utility company and regulators that affected tens of thousands of utility customers.
The water utility founded by George Johnson in 1997 to serve developments in the San Tan Valley area between Queen Creek and Florence had issues with sewage spills, water quality, odors and effluent discharges, and racked up an exhaustive record of violations with state regulators.
“This sale closing is the most important thing to happen to the San Tan Valley area in recent memory,” said Court Rich, an attorney with Rose Law Group who represented several homebuilders and land developers that were prevented from building in the area because the utility couldn’t supply fresh water or sewer service for additional customers.
“There have been studies done that showed that the problems caused by Johnson Utility’s inability to provide reliable service was costing that area hundreds of millions of dollars in economic opportunity and thousands of jobs. Hopefully this sale unlocks that immense economic potential and job-creating potential.”
