Average water bill to rise $1.40

SignonSanDiego [1] July 17, 2007

SAN DIEGO - The average residential water bill in San Diego would rise by $1.40 beginning in January under a proposal announced Tuesday to help offset a hike in the cost of imported water.

The increase is needed to counter an 8 percent rise in the rates charged by the San Diego County Water Authority, the agency the city buys 90 percent of its water from, Mayor Jerry Sanders said.

The hike would be on top of utility rate increases already adopted.

The City Council agreed in February to increase the city's water and sewer fees annually over the next four years to begin to address a $1.4 billion backlog of mandated infrastructure projects.

"Unlike the last time the council addressed the changes to rates, this proposal is not based on our own infrastructure requirements," Sanders said. "In fact, the proposal is revenue-neutral."

The mayor said he will ask the City Council later this month to approve a mailing to residents detailing the proposed increase.

The notice would also outline a rebate that will save sewer customers in the city about $3.25 on their monthly bills.

The rebate stems from the settlement of a lawsuit filed more than two years ago by Michael Shames, executive director of the Utility Consumers' Action Network. Under the terms, San Diego must return $35 million to sewer customers who were incorrectly billed between 1994 and 2004.

The mayor's office also used the Shames settlement as a way to soften the perceived impact of the previous round of utility rate increases.

Two town hall-style meetings on the proposed water bill increases are scheduled next week - on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Rancho Bernardo Library, and two days later at 6 p.m. at the San Diego Workforce Partnership office in Normal Heights.

Public hearings [2]

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will hold two forums next week to discuss the city's latest proposed water-rate increase. Both meetings will be televised on Channel 24.

Monday: 6 p.m. at the Rancho Bernardo Public Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive.

July 25: 6 p.m. at the San Diego Workforce Partnership, 3910 University Ave.
Water agencies countywide are increasing their rates to offset rapidly rising wholesale water prices.