Locals who’ve kept a close eye on the company, however, say regulators failed to determine whether the tie-up serves the public interest.

State regulators have launched an investigation to determine whether the San Jose Water Co. over-billed customers for 30 years.

A planned tie-up between San Jose Water Company and another private utility on the East Coast has morphed into a four-way merger battle.

San Jose Water Co.’s latest pitch to raise rates comes before the CPUC Thursday, and irate customers are gearing up for a showdown.