HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 (January) Rate Increase Notice - Residential Water ServiceNotice of Residential
Water Rate Increase
Otay Water District
2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd.
Spring Valley, CA 91978-2004
619-670-2222
www.otaywater.gov
NOTICE OF INCREASED WATER RATES AND CHARGES EFFECTIVE
FOR WATER BILLED IN JANUARY 2016
Dear Customer,
An overall average rate increase of 5.8 percent was approved by the Otay Water District (the “District”)
as part of the annual budget adoption process completed in June 2015. For a typical single-family residential
water customer, your water bill will increase by $4.33 per month beginning January 1, 2016. Depending on
your billing cycle, the new rates and charges will apply to water used as early as the beginning of December
2015. This letter serves as a 30-day notice of rate increases.
The District is a revenue-neutral public agency. To continue providing reliable high-quality water service
the District must implement rate increases and pass-through to its customers higher costs from wholesale
water suppliers. All of these increases are a result of higher costs from those suppliers which include the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), San Diego County Water Authority (CWA), and
the City of San Diego, as well as power cost increases from SDG&E.
On September 4, 2013, the District adopted a five-year schedule of rates in compliance with applicable
provisions of the law. This increase is within the limits approved in the five-year schedule of rates.
Water wholesalers raise their water rates as they work to obtain new and more reliable supplies of water
or build new and more reliable infrastructure. This includes agricultural to urban water transfers, expansion
of reservoirs, pipeline relining projects, new water treatment plants, as well as potential new sources of water
supplies such as ocean water desalination. In addition, rate increases cover the cost of acquiring imported
water from the Colorado River and Northern California.
For its part, the District continues to work to reduce internal costs including reducing the number of full-
time employees and instituting efficiency programs that help reduce the impact of higher rates from
suppliers. The District also continually strives to be among the lower cost water service providers in San
Diego County.
With water resources stretched thin across California, and mandates on all Californians to save water,
customers interested in learning ways in which they can reduce their water use to minimize the effects of this
rate increase can visit the District’s
Conservation pages at
www.otaywater.gov. The District
provides information on rebates,
incentives, water audits, and other
resources to help you save water.
The Water Conservation Garden
located in Rancho San Diego is free
to the public and offers various
conservation exhibits and classes to
help you save water too. Please
visit the Water Conservation
Garden, or visit www.thegarden.org.
For more information about the
Otay Water District, visit
www.otaywater.gov or contact us at
info@otaywater.gov.
PROJECTED WATER BILLS BY AGENCY EFFECTIVE FY 2016
Si gusta assistencia en Español, referente a esta notificacion, favor de llamar al 619-670-2222.
Dedicated to Community Service
*
13 unit water use and 3/4” meter
*
*Otay’s estimate
using average
rate increase
New Rates and Fees
Single Family Consumption Blocks
(Units or HCF)2 Current New
Conservation Tier3 $1.95 $1.99
6 - 10 $3.04 $3.10
11 - 22 $3.95 $4.03
23 + $6.08 $6.20
Current New
Meter Size System Fee MWD/CWA Total System Fee MWD/CWA Total
3/4” $19.39 $13.67 $33.06 $18.91 $16.84 $35.75
1” $27.39 $25.35 $52.74 $26.71 $31.24 $57.95
1 1/2” $47.40 $57.35 $104.75 $46.22 $70.66 $116.88
2” $71.39 $97.53 $168.92 $69.61 $120.17 $189.78
Footnotes
Typical Bill at 13 HCF2 (or Units) of Water per Month
MWD/CWA1 System Fee1 Water Rate2 Energy Charge4 Total5
Current $13.67 $19.39 $42.25 $2.24 $77.55
New $16.84 $18.91 $43.09 $3.03 $81.87
Increase in monthly water bill: $ 4.33
Your bill will vary based on meter size, water consumption in units, and geographic location.
1. These fees vary based on the meter size. The
MWD/CWA fee is increasing to match the costs from
these water suppliers. The System Fee pays for
betterment, replacement, and maintenance of water
system infrastructure, as well as operating expenses.
The system fee is decreasing, reflecting the lower
funding of reserves.
2. This cost varies based on water usage and can be
calculated using the consumption block tables. One unit
of consumption equals 748 gallons of water or one HCF
(hundred cubic feet).
3. The Conservation Tier discount applies toward the first
five units when overall consumption is ten units or less.
4. The Energy Charge represents the cost of energy
required to pump each unit of water 100 feet in
elevation. This is charged proportionately for every
foot of elevation over 450 feet.
5. Charges collected through the property tax role
(availability fees and general obligation debt) are not
included in this total.
6. Fire Service requires a separate meter and this fee is
based on meter size.
This information reflects only changes to rates. For a comprehensive listing, please see the Otay Water District’s Code
of Ordinances at www.otaywater.gov. Prolonged drought conditions or declared water shortages may impact rates.
Si gusta assistencia en Español, referente a esta notificacion, favor de llamar al 619-670-2222.
Other Charges
Current New
Energy Charges4 $0.050 $0.072
Fire Service <3”meter 6 $25.32 $24.69
Fire Service >4”meter 6 $34.12 $33.27