EBMUD Board Considers Rate Increases Tuesday, March 24
On Tuesday, March 24, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board will consider a proposed $1.8 billion budget that EBMUD’s General Manager Alexander Coate will present on Tuesday, March 24, to the Board of Directors. The budget funds critical capital projects, accounts for increased water supply costs because of drought, and balances slimmed down water sales.
Under the first year of this proposal, the average EBMUD household that uses about 7,500 gallons per month would see an increase in their monthly water charge of $3.57, increasing their bill from $48.60 to $52.17 each month. That is about a 7 percent increase to most residential water bills for fiscal year 2016. About two-thirds of EBMUD’s single family residential customers use less than the average amount.
The highest one percent of water using households, those using about 45,000 gallons per month, would see an increase in their monthly water charge of $47.69, increasing their bill from $264.68 to $312.37 each month. That is about an 18 percent increase for those customers in fiscal year 2016.
The wide range in water rate increases in fiscal year 2016 stems from the findings of a cost of service study the district conducted last year. State law requires rates be based on the cost of service. The study recommended adjustments for rates in all customer classes and all tier levels to match customer costs with services received.
An additional 7 percent rate increase for all water customers also is proposed for fiscal year 2017.
New this year to the budget are proposed temporary drought surcharges of up to 25 percent. The drought surcharges of 8, 20 or 25 percent would apply to all customers only during a declared stage 2, 3 or 4 drought and only on the volume of water they use. Drought surcharges primarily would pay for water supplies via EBMUD’s Freeport facility on the Sacramento River.
