HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 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 2015
Dear Customer,
An overall 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 May 2014. For a typical single-family residential water
customer, your water bill will increase by $3.82 per month beginning January 1, 2015. Depending on your
billing cycle, the new rates and charges will apply to water used as early as the beginning of December
2014. 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. A large percentage of this increase is a direct pass-through 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.
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 contemplated 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 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 on the campus of
Cuyamaca College 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 2015
14 unit water use
and 3/4” meter *
*
*
*
*
*
*Otay’s estimate
using average
rate increase
*
Si gusta assistencia en Español, referente a esta notificacion, favor de llamar al 619-670-2222.
Dedicated to Community Service
New Rates and Fees
Single Family Consumption Blocks
(Units or HCF)2 Current New
Conservation Tier3 $1.86 $1.95
6 - 10 $2.90 $3.04
11 - 22 $3.77 $3.95
23 + $5.80 $6.08
Current New
Meter Size System Fee MWD/CWA Total System Fee MWD/CWA Total
3/4” $16.19 $14.45 $30.64 $19.39 $13.67 $33.06
1” $22.87 $26.79 $49.66 $27.39 $25.35 $52.74
1 1/2” $39.58 $60.61 $100.19 $47.40 $57.35 $104.75
2” $59.62 $103.08 $162.70 $71.39 $97.53 $168.92
Footnotes
Typical Bill at 14 HCF2 (or Units) of Water per Month
MWD/CWA1 System Fee1 Water Rate2 Energy Charge4 Water Charge by
Improvement District5 Total5
Current $14.45 $16.19 $44.08 $2.33 $0.79 $77.84
New $13.67 $19.39 $46.19 $2.41 - $81.66
Increase in monthly water bill: $3.82
Your bill will vary based on meter size, water consumption in units, and geographic location.
1. These fees are based on the meter size. The MWD/CWA
fee is decreasing to match the cost from the District’s
water suppliers. The System Fee is increasing to pay for
higher water system replacement, maintenance, and
operating expenses.
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 $0.048 $0.050
Fire Service <3”meter 6 $21.14 $25.32
Fire Service >4”meter 6 $28.49 $34.12