San Diego Council Approves Flat Water Rates Following Legal Settlement
Low-use customers face a $6 monthly hike while high-use customers see a $20 drop under the new structure approved by the City Council.
By Thomas Rogers ·
San Diego water customers will see a different billing structure on their statements starting in January. This change arrives alongside a previously approved rate increase.
The shift results from a lawsuit filed in 2015 that challenged the city’s tiered water pricing system. The new system charges customers based solely on the volume of water they consume, removing the previous tiers that offered discounts for low usage.
The City Council voted 6-2 on Tuesday to approve the modified rate structure. City leaders stated they disagreed with the court’s ruling but were legally obligated to comply. A staff member presenting the agenda item noted, “The city does not agree with the court's decision in the [Daniel Patz et al. v. City of San Diego] case. However, we are legally required to have a structure the court deems valid.”
The financial impact varies by consumption level. The city estimates the average monthly bill for a low-use customer in a single-family home will rise by about $6. Conversely, the bill for a high-use customer is expected to decrease by $20. The city is now responsible for a $40 million settlement after failing to overturn the ruling on appeal.
Council member Sean Elo-Rivera, representing district 9, voiced frustration during the vote. He said, “It makes me angry because what is being imposed on us as a city and, therefore imposed, on the people of San Diego is a penalty for doing more to conserve water.”
Residents have offered mixed reactions to the change. Isabel Jordan, a local resident, acknowledged the difficulty of balancing equity with conservation incentives. She said, “I mean we’re in Southern California. We’re in a water crisis, water shortage constantly, in and out of drought, so at first I was like, ‘oh, everyone should pay the same rate,’ then I kind of understand the incentive behind subsidizing more efficient consumers of water.”
A city representative acknowledged that even modest increases could affect households that have made efforts to conserve water. The modified billing structure will take effect in January, coinciding with the start of the separate, previously approved water rate increase.
Source: KNSD
