On Sept. 17, the Sweetwater Authority Governing Board accepted the 2023 rate study, which proposes a water rate structure for the following three years, determining the cost of providing water service and revenue required to maintain current water service levels.
With a 9.5% increase in San Diego County Water Authority’s imported water cost, the Authority is proposing implementing an additional 0.5% in revenues starting Jan. 1, 2024, a 6% increase on Jan. 1, 2025, and a 6.5% increase on Jan. 1. 2026.
“This more moderate increase is a direct result of the Board’s commitment to leverage costs-savings associated with maintaining a local water supply,” officials stated in a press release.
The Governing Board is scheduled to vote on the proposed rate adjustments at a public hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.
Proposition 218 requires local governments to provide written notice of a proposed rate adjustment by mail to its customers no less than 45 days before holding a public hearing on the proposed rate adjustment. The required notices will be mailed to all customers no later than Oct. 16. If approved at the public hearing, new rates would go into effect on January 1, 2024. The Prop 218 notice will be available in English, Spanish and Tagalog on the Authority’s website.
For a copy of the approved rate study and more information on the proposed rate adjustments, including the Proposition 218 notice and a Bill Estimator once available, please visit www.sweetwater.org/ratestudy.
