Water Rates Lowered In Dublin, San Ramon

From DSRSD: Acknowledging the return of healthy water supplies, last night the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) Board of Directors voted unanimously to cancel a stage 1 water shortage that called for 10 percent voluntary conservation. The Board also lowered water consumption rates from stage 1 to normal, effective June 1.

“With water supplies back to normal, it’s appropriate to return to normal rates and rely on our customers to continue using water efficiently without a formal conservation goal. We have every confidence they will. They responded brilliantly throughout the drought,” says DSRSD Board President Richard Halket.

Moving from stage 1 to normal water rates affects customers differently, depending on meter size, customer class, and water use. A residential customer who uses 34 billing units every two months will pay about four percent less, saving $7.90 on each bimonthly bill. Customers can use a calculator on the District’s website (www.dsrsd.com/water-rates) to estimate their savings and the AquaHawk Customer Portal (www.dsrsd.com/AquaHawk) to monitor past and current water use.

Only “consumption” rates will change on June 1. When the District declares a water shortage, consumption rates increase in stages to encourage conservation and recover revenue needed to operate the water system with declining water sales. Other water bill components will not change; these include a fixed charge based on meter size and a volume-based charge that covers the cost of water purchased from Zone 7 Water Agency.
Returning to normal rates may reduce DSRSD water revenues modestly. However, the District projected operating revenue for fiscal year 2018 based on normal rates and has sufficient reserve funds available to mitigate any short-term revenue shortfalls. About 90 percent of DSRSD’s operating costs to provide water service are fixed, regardless of the amount of water sold. The District plans to conduct a rate study in 2018 to establish water rates for the following five years.

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