Storms filled California reservoirs. So why are water bills spiking?
All that rain and snow captured in California’s reservoirs this year means plenty of water to go around. But it isn’t doing anything to reduce your household water bill. The Bay Area’s largest water suppliers, including the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the East Bay Municipal Utility District, are planning new rate hikes for water and sewer service, starting this summer. Many of these increases will be the biggest in years. San Francisco residents can expect to see an average 8.3% annual jump in their combined water-sewer bill over the next three years, or a cumulative 27% increase. EBMUD customers can anticipate an 8.5% increase in each of the next two years, or a roughly 18% total hike. … Both EBMUD and the SFPUC, alongside other utilities planning new rate hikes, intend to spend the bulk of their additional revenue on capital improvements.
Related article:
- Hanford Sentinel: Hanford water users may see bigger bill due to meter malfunction