HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Rate Increase Notice - Public and Commercial Water ServiceNotice of Public and
Commercial Water
Rate Increase
Dedicated to Community Service
Otay Water District
2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd.
Spring Valley, CA 91978
619-670-2222
www.otaywater.gov
NOTICE OF INCREASED WATER RATES AND CHARGES EFFECTIVE
ON WATER USAGE BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2012
Dear Customer,
An overall rate increase of 7.7% was approved by the Otay Water District’s (the
“District”) Board of Directors as part of the annual budget adoption process completed in
May 2011. This action is necessary due to higher costs from wholesale water suppliers.
The rate increase herein noticed is a 100% pass-through to those suppliers. The new
water rates and charges will apply to water billed beginning February 1, 2012, and
depending on your billing cycle, may apply to water usage as early as the beginning of
January 2012. 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 services, the District must implement rate increases and must pass-
through to its customers higher costs from suppliers including the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (MWD), San Diego County Water Authority (CWA), and
the City of San Diego.
Water wholesalers are raising their rates to obtain new and more reliable supplies
of water. These include more reliable emergency supplies, agricultural to urban water
transfers, canal lining projects that conserve water in Imperial County and transfer that
water to end users in San Diego County, as well as new potential sources of water. In
addition, rate increases cover the higher cost of acquiring imported water from the
Colorado River and Northern California.
Water wholesalers are raising their rates by 9.97% in January 2012, but by cutting
internal costs, including reducing the number of full-time employees and efficiency
programs such as automated meter reading and online billing services, the District is
able to absorb a significant amount of those costs and pass-through a smaller rate
increase to its customers.
On August 24, 2009 the District adopted a five-year schedule of rates in compli-
ance with applicable provisions of law. This increase is within the limits contemplated in
that five-year schedule of rates.
Customers interested in learning ways they can reduce their water usage to
minimize the effects of the higher cost of water can visit the District’s Conservation page
at www.otaywater.gov. Additionally, the Water Conservation Garden located in Rancho
San Diego offers various conservation exhibits and classes. To learn more about the
Garden, visit www.thegarden.org. For more information about the District, please go to
www.otaywater.gov or contact us via email at info@otaywater.gov.
Current New
Meter Size System
Fee2 MWD/CWA2 Total System
Fee2 MWD/CWA2 Total
3/4" $14.58 $11.82 $26.40 $14.58 $14.01 $28.59
1" $18.52 $19.69 $38.21 $18.52 $23.33 $41.85
1 1/2" $28.37 $39.44 $67.81 $28.37 $46.74 $75.11
2" $40.18 $63.07 $103.25 $40.18 $74.74 $114.92
3" $71.68 $126.14 $197.82 $71.68 $149.48 $221.16
4" $107.13 $197.11 $304.24 $107.13 $233.58 $340.71
6" $205.59 $394.17 $599.76 $205.59 $467.09 $672.68
8" $323.73 $630.71 $954.44 $323.73 $747.39 $1,071.12
10" $461.57 $903.58 $1,365.15 $461.57 $1,070.74 $1,532.31
Consumption Blocks by Unit and System Fees by Meter Size
Other Charges
Current New
Energy Charges3 $0.044 $0.045
Improvement District4 No. 3 $0.19 $0.20
Improvement District4 No. 10 $0.27 $0.27
La Presa4 $0.08 $0.08
Footnotes
1. 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. 2. These Fixed Charges are based on the meter
size. The MWD/CWA fee is increasing to reflect the full pass-through of this cost by the District’s
water suppliers. 3. 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. This increase is necessary due to increased power costs to the
District. 4. This charge is a per unit charge and your bill will
vary based on water consumption.
This information reflects only changes to rates. For a comprehensive listing of rates, please
see the Otay Water District’s Code of Ordinance at www.otaywater.gov.
Public and Commercial Water Usage Fee (<10” meter)
Consumption Blocks (units)1 Current New
0 - 173 $2.44 $2.59
174 - 831 $2.50 $2.66
832 or more $2.54 $2.70
Public and Commercial Water Usage Fee (10” meter)
Consumption Blocks (units)1 Current New
0 - 7,426 $2.44 $2.59
7,427 - 14,616 $2.50 $2.66
14,617 or more $2.54 $2.70