The City sent letters to all the utility account holders (rate payers) in addition to all the property owners. If you own your home and are a water customer, you may get two letters. This occurred when there were differences between the name listed on the water account and the name listed on the County … Continued
State law allows water agencies to pass-through to their customers the cost to fund increases in wholesale water costs imposed by agencies like the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA). The City’s 2018 rate study estimated annual wholesale water costs increases from SCWA of 6% a year. If actual SCWA charges are higher, State law allows the … Continued
California voters adopted Proposition 218 in November 1996 to amend the State Constitution to establish the process by which public agencies can raise taxes or service fees. It requires greater public involvement in water rate-making. Among other things, Proposition 218 requires the City to mail a notice of proposed water rates to every property owner … Continued
The City’s water utility owns $16.4 million in infrastructure that is used to deliver water. A reliable and safe water system is a valuable asset and an essential element of the quality of life in Sonoma. Approximately $7.4 million of capital improvement projects are planned over the next five years to replace aging water mains, … Continued
New development does pay a one-time connection fee to “buy in” to the system. New development is also required to pay for and install infrastructure required to serve it. Capital improvements funded by customers’ rates are needed to maintain and improve the water sys- tem for the benefit of current users, not to serve new … Continued
Legal changes required this surcharge to end. However, the City has included charges to customers at higher elevations (all of whom are outside the City) to reflect the higher cost to operate pumps to serve those elevations. This affects customers in the hills around the Thornsberry area (Zone 2 on City water maps). These are … Continued
Yes, the number of tiers (amounts of water available at progressively higher prices to encourage conservation) for the volumetric charges for Single Family customers are to be reduced from four to three. The amount of water available in each tier is also changed to reflect legal requirements. Tiers for other customer categories were replaced with … Continued
The City charges both a fixed monthly service charge and a water use or “volumetric” rate. The fixed service charge is based on the size of a meter and is a flat sum due each month without respect to water use. All Single Family Residential users pay the same monthly charge because the small differences … Continued
Water rate studies are usually done every four or five years. The 2014 Water Rate Study came just before an important court decision which changed how water rates are calculated under Proposition 218 (a State law regulating rates), particularly regarding tiered rates (rates that increase with consumption to encourage conservation). In light of this and … Continued
Yes. The rate increase is needed to maintain the current level of ser- vice, improve infrastructure, and to maintain reliable and safe water service. Without these increases, the public could see reduced service levels, higher future costs due to deferred maintenance, and decreased reliability. The increase will also fund fire flow improvements to protect public … Continued
