The proposed water rate structure has four customer classes - single family residential, multi-family residential, commercial/institutional (including hotels, motels and RV parks), and irrigation (including landscaping and agriculture). For all customers, the rate structure is comprised of a fixed account charge (per account), a fixed meter charge (based on the size of the meter) and consumptive (volumetric) charges. The City also imposes a fixed monthly fire protection charge (based on service size) for properties that have a private fire suppression system.
The consumptive charge is determined on the basis of the amount of water served to an account Single family residential customers have tiered rates that impose higher rates as the level of water use increases. Tier 1 rates are charged for the first 8000 gallons per month, which is considered a reasonable amount of indoor water use for a typical single family account. Tier 2 rates are charged for the next 7000 gallons per month, which is considered a reasonable amount of outdoor water use for a typical single family account. Water usage in excess of 15,000 gallons per month is charge the Tier 3 rate. All other customer classes are charged a uniform consumptive rate (non-tiered) based upon the cost of service. Sewer rates for all customers are made up of two fixed charges: a fixed account charge (per account) and a fixed meter charge (per equivalent unit). The equivalent units are assigned to accounts based on the criteria in the table to the right.
Water and sewer rates charged to customers that have properties outside of City limits are twice the rates charged to City customers presented herein due to factors such as higher capital and operating costs and a return on equity for use of City-owned infrastructure.