Mission Springs Water District increases rates
Customers of the Mission Springs Water District will soon see an increase in their monthly bills.
On Tuesday, the Board of Directors voted for the rate increase to meet the challenges the water district faces with new regulations from the state. The new rates will take effect on March 1.
Officials said in a release that MSWD customers will see changes to both the fixed and variable components to their water costs. The changes will amount to an increase in water costs of about $0.53 for an average residential customer in the first year, and nearly 85 percent of residential customers will experience a change of about $3 or less per month in the first year.
The Board’s decision included the approval of a five-year schedule of changes to the district’s water and sewer rates, as well as changes to the way rates are structured. The recommended rates, developed by an independent financial consultant, were designed to: treat customers in all classes equitably; encourage conservation and discourage water waste; cover the approximately $20 million in capital expenses necessary to comply with California’s new Chromium-6 regulations over the next six years; maintain aging water and sewer systems; and ensure that MSWD has the revenue to maintain existing levels of service in light of state-mandated reductions in water sales, district officials said in the release.
“We appreciated the public’s participation tonight [Tuesday],” said Nancy Wright, president of the MSWD Board of Directors. “The District recognizes the importance of using ratepayer dollars wisely. We have carefully considered the comments and concerns of the public over the span of a dozen meetings on this critical issue.”
Residential sewer bills will also increase, by $5.69. See impacts specific to your bill by looking at MSWD’s Bill Estimator. Residential customers interested in seeing the impacts specific to their monthly bill can visit MSWD’s Bill Estimator.
