DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES PRESENT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO RATE ADVISORY COMMISSION

FOLLOW-UP MEETING ON PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS HELD WEDNESDAY EVENING

Washington, D.C. – February 18, 2016 – (RealEstateRama) — The Utilities Rate Advisory Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve theDepartment of Utilities’ proposed water and wastewater rate adjustments. The four-year proposal is for annual rate increases of 10 percent for water and 9 percent for wastewater.

The Commission also recommended that the City Council consider expansion of the Utility Rate Assistance Program to cover additional customers, including nonprofit organizations that provide housing.

Last night’s meeting was a continuation of the Commission’s January 27 public hearing. In response to questions received from the Commission, City staff presented additional information at last night’s hearing on the proposed rate adjustments, including:

• Information showing the impact on proposed water rates if completion of the water meter program were delayed until 2024 instead of the accelerated program and 2020 completion target approved by the City Council in February 2015.
• A discussion of the benefits of the current meter program.
• Information on the City’s Utility Rate Assistance Program.

“We appreciate the Commission making the difficult decision to recommend DOU’s proposed rate adjustments to City Council,” said Bill Busath, director of the Department of Utilities.

The City Council will consider the proposed water and wastewater rate adjustments in March.

For additional information on the proposed water and wastewater rate adjustments, please contact Utilities at (916) 808-5454 or visit www.YourUtilitiesYourCommunity.com.

Contact: Rhea Serran, Department of Utilities, 916-808-5594, RSerran (at) cityofsacramento (dot) org