For the first time in its history, the Sweetwater Authority recently launched the agency’s Low-Income Customer Assistance Program to help eligible households pay their residential water bills. Eligible customers can receive up to $120 of bill assistance each year. The program is funded by non-rate revenues as required by state law, and allocates approximately $500,000 per year that can assist around 4,000 households with their water bills.
“The Board is dedicated to keeping our costs low while also exploring ways to help those customers who may benefit from additional assistance,” said Chair Paulina Martinez-Perez in a press release. “We’re proud to have developed this in-house program that will help so many of our community members save on their water bill.”
To qualify, customers must show proof that they are an active participant in San Diego Gas & Electric’s CARE program. Proof of CARE program enrollment is the preferred qualification method. If proof cannot be provided, customers can show proof that they meet the program income requirements. Customers can verify eligibility and apply for the program at www.sweetwater.org/lcap.
Authority General Manager Carlos Quintero said it just concluded a three-year rate study. He said there are two ways the Authority charges its customers. A fixed rate, or meter, where everybody pays that amount, and then a variable portion based on the amount of water used.
“There was a slight increase in the fixed costs. Thirteen percent of all revenue comes from the fixed portion. The Board, as part of the rate study, decided to move that percentage to 19% in three years. It means that three years from now, 19% of our rates will be from the fixed portion and 81% from the variable portion. This will have a slight adjustment of what people pay. Low-water users will probably see a slight increase in their bill, but the unit cost will be a little lower,” he said.
Quintero said as part of the effort to mitigate that change, the board directed them to propose a low-income assistance program.
“By law, Proposition 218, we can only use our profit from water sales for our expenditures. We cannot use that to subsidize any rates. Our water tanks are leased to telecommunications companies, and that gives us about $500,000 a year. That is considered non-water revenue, which means that can be used as directed by the governing board. That is the revenue that we are using to fund this program,” he said. “The amount is modest, but we believe that it can help the people with the most need. It is $10 per month, and we bill bi-monthly, so in average it is $10 a month for an annual maximum of $120 per month per customer.”
The Authority offers customers additional resources to help with water bills. Customers are encouraged to reach out to the Authority’s Customer Service Department at (619) 420-1413.
