Golden State Water customers in Los Angeles and Orange counties were hit with a hefty increase in their water bills last year, and now, if the state approves the company’s latest request, those bills could climb 30% more by 2030. That’ll mean about $25 more per month for the average residential customer. Those customers aren’t alone, however. Such increases have become increasingly common in Southern California as utilities and water districts grapple with the broader economy, climate change, higher import and treatment costs and a never-ending battle against aging infrastructure, experts say. Last year, researchers at UCLA found the water bill for an average household in L.A. County jumped nearly 60% from 2015 to 2025.