GrokSurf's San Diego

An update on the Public Utility Department’s proposed pass-though water rate increase for 2011 was given at today’s meeting of the Independent Rates Oversight Committee (IROC). PUD is requesting to pass along water rate increases that it will have to pay the County Water Authority starting in 2011 (because CWA is passing on the rate increase imposed on it by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California).

The request was already heard by the NR&C Committee and forwarded to the City Council without recommendation (item 5). The Council will be asked to approve Proposition 218 Noticing of recommended rate increases and set a public hearing date.

PUD’s Assistant Director Alex Ruiz supplied the timeline for the next steps:

• Nov. 29: On the docket for City Council meeting at 2pm
• Dec. 8 or sooner: Proposed mailing of notice and announcement of public hearing
• Jan. 24: Proposed public hearing date
• Mar. 1: Proposed effective date of increase

Here’s the request documentation (with background); includes a sample public notice and other background (the exact pricing data that appear on the sample public notice are not accurate–they have since been revised upwards slightly due to incorrect information previously obtained from CWA).

Note that an earlier temporary rate increase for the IPR Demonstration Project is expired and is no longer being charged.

In other news, PUD’s Director Roger Bailey submitted a status update on the PUD action plan response to IROC’s 2008 Annual Report, which includes the latest on the IPR Demonstration Project. Also, IROC continues to discuss the issue of low-income ratepayer assistance with PUD; the PUD’s Recycled Water Study is expected to be completed by the end of December; and the committee will slightly increase its meeting time beginning January 2011.