Rate Increase FAQ
How will the proposed rate increase impact specific family households?
FSLVW has conducted additional analysis to help single-family residential ratepayers understand how the rate increase and the new tiered rate structure will affect them.
The table below provides estimates of the total bills for four types of users:
Small households (1-2 people) with no outside irrigation;
Larger households (3-4 people) with little or no outside irrigation;
Small households with water-efficient landscaping;
Small households with large irrigated areas and/or features like turf, vegetable gardens or pools that result in high summer demand.
The table provides estimates of annual water costs using the current rate structure and the proposed rate structure in 2024 and 2028. (The costs in years 2025-2027 will increase gradually between 2024 and 2028.) These estimates include the CZU Fire Surcharge, which sunsets in 2026, and take into account the effect of tiered rates on customers whose usage varies seasonally. The calculations in the table show that customers with heavier summer usage due to outdoor irrigation and/or pools will see the biggest impact on their bills, both in absolute dollars and in percentage increase in annual cost. They bear a much larger burden of the rate increase. Note that 3-4 person households with no garden will experience the smallest percentage increases over the five years, particularly in the first year.
ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST OF PROPOSED RATE INCREASE BY RATEPAYER TYPE
*3 units/month year-round
**6 units/month year-round
***12-14 units/month in summer; 8-10/month in spring and autumn; 3/month in winter; 8.4 units average
****30-40 units/month in summer; 10-20/month in spring and autumn; 3/month in winter;19 units average
(Note: Contact FSLVW if you would like access to the full data analysis. The data in the table is based on typical usage for calendar year 2022, which was a relatively normal water year. The SLV had a very wet winter and relatively cool summer in 2023, so if one had used consumption in 2023 as typical it would have underestimated water bills in future years.)
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