SAN JOSE, CA, JULY 12, 2018 -- SJW Group announced that SJWTX, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group based in New Braunfels, Texas, has completed its acquisition of the Deer Creek Ranch Water Co., LLC's water system. In 2017, SJWTX, Inc. entered into an agreement to purchase the water system assets. SJWTX, Inc., operates as Canyon Lake Water Service Company in New Braunfels about 40 miles south of Deer Creek Ranch's service area.
Deer Creek Ranch includes approximately 750 service connections over an area of 1,191 acres in the Texas Hill Country on the rapidly growing western fringe of the Austin metropolitan area.
'We're pleased to welcome Deer Creek Ranch's customers and both of the system's employees into the SJWTX, Inc. family. They are joining a water service provider with more than 150 years of experience in operating rural, suburban and metropolitan water networks. We pride ourselves on our commitment to the communities we serve and our proven experience with integrating new water systems into our organization while continuing to deliver safe, high-quality, reliable water to every customer,' said Eric W. Thornburg, President and Chief Executive Officer of SJW Group.
The Deer Creek Ranch water system serves a number of subdivisions on the border of Travis and Hays Counties, collectively referred to as Deer Creek Ranch. Two employees of the Deer Creek Ranch water system have also accepted employment offers with SJWTX, Inc. and their continued employment ensures a seamless and efficient integration into Canyon Lake Water Service Company's operations.
With the acquisition, SJWTX, Inc., will be acquiring a Firm Water Contract with the Lower Colorado River Authority for the provision of raw water and a Wholesale Water Services Agreement with the West Travis County Public Utility Agency for the treatment and transportation to Deer Creek Ranch of all water purchased from the Lower Colorado River Authority. SJWTX, Inc., submitted an application to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for the sale, transfer or merger of the water system in December 2017 and completed its initial due diligence inspections of the water system in January of 2018. The Public Utility Commission of Texas granted permission to close in April 2018.
