While this story is about Bakersfield, the problem is going to hit the whole of California. Newsom and his Democrat buddies have limited water supply and ended the use of nuclear, coal and limited the use of electricity/fossil fuel. This drives up the cost. Then you have water going into the ocean instead of dams, a slight wind and electrical service is cut off. Dependable water and energy? Not in California. And that is costing jobs and creating inflation.
“Residents who get their water and sewer services from the Bakersfield city system could see major rate increases starting as early as July.
The City Council’s Water Board committee voted Wednesday to bring a proposed water rate increase of 50.8% over the next five years to the full council at its March 26 meeting. Bakersfield’s water system serves about 165,000 residents.
The proposed rate increases have come on the heels of another multi-year increase approved in 2022. That increase boosted rates by 10% in the 2023-24 fiscal year, then another 6% in 2024-25. The remaining three rate hikes under that plan would be replaced under the new proposal.”
It seems every policy of the Governor and legislature is aimed at limited jobs, raising costs and promoting U-Haul.
LOIS HENRY: Bakersfield water and sewer rates could be going up – way up
BY LOIS HENRY, Bakersfield.com, 3/14/25 https://www.bakersfield.com/columnists/lois-henry-bakersfield-water-and-sewer-rates-could-be-going-up-way-up/article_0aa87ea8-00f2-11f0-8ea7-ef9b900f24dc.html
Residents who get their water and sewer services from the Bakersfield city system could see major rate increases starting as early as July.
The City Council’s Water Board committee voted Wednesday to bring a proposed water rate increase of 50.8% over the next five years to the full council at its March 26 meeting. Bakersfield’s water system serves about 165,000 residents.
The proposed rate increases have come on the heels of another multi-year increase approved in 2022. That increase boosted rates by 10% in the 2023-24 fiscal year, then another 6% in 2024-25. The remaining three rate hikes under that plan would be replaced under the new proposal.
The Water Board, made up of council members Manpreet Kaur, Bob Smith and Andrae Gonzales, also approved bringing a nearly 300% increase to the city’s annual sewer charge to the council for consideration at the same meeting.
The council would then vote on whether to put the increases out to the public for an election and hearing under Proposition 218 rules. If the increases remain as proposed and succeed through that process, residents could see changes on their water bills as soon as July 1.
The initial jump in water rates would be significant — 34%. Increases would then taper off in succeeding years to 6% in the 2025-26 fiscal year, another 6% in 2026-27 and, finally, increases of 2.4% for both the 2027-28 and 2028-29 fiscal years.
That would take average residential bills from $43.46 to $54.94 this year and eventually up to $64.72 by the final year.
Even with those increases, Bakersfield residents would still pay less for water than any other purveyors in the area, City Water Resources Department staff pointed out during Wednesday’s meeting.
Average water bills in East Niles Community Service District are about $90 per month, while residents in California Water Service Co.’s territory pay $118 and customers of Vaughn Mutual Water Co. pay about $80 per month, according to information provided by the city.
“The city is well below the average,” said Water Resources Department head Kristina Budak.
The sewer rate, if approved, would go from $239 per year to $950. Residents pay for that on their property tax bills. And, again, city staff noted Bakersfield’s sewer rates have for decades been kept significantly lower than similarly sized cities.
Bakersfield’s sewer rate has only been increased twice in the past 19 years, going from $135 in 2006 to $215 in 2016, to $239 currently.
After developing 10-year infrastructure master plans for both the water and sewer systems, staff realized the city had to increase rates to maintain, refurbish and expand those systems to meet demands. SJV Water requested copies of those master plans but had not received them in time for this story.
A short list presented to council members at the Water Board meeting showed at least $5.5 million in immediate capital improvement projects from treatment for contaminants to replacing old generators. Meanwhile, operations and maintenance costs continue to escalate — especially power, which chews up $12 million a year, staff said.
“I’ve mentioned this several times before, but I think that $12 million shows it’s past time, way past time, for us to get serious about building solar in our recharge basins,” Councilman Smith said.
The sewer rate increase is being driven primarily by the need to replace one of Bakersfield’s three sewer plants, which was built in the 1950s. Replacing the Planz Road plant will cost “somewhere between” $500 million and $600 million, according to staff. Beyond that, necessary sewer line, storm drain and lift station replacements are expected to cost an additional $30 million over the next five years.
Council members asked why the sewer rate had been kept so low for so many years.
“It was always considered a priority by past management to keep that rate low. I don’t know why. Bragging rights, maybe?” said Wastewater Manager Evette Roldan.
“Well, you get what you pay for,” Gonzales said. “This is deferred maintenance catching up to us.”
He encouraged staff to re-evaluate projects and costs more frequently so ratepayers aren’t hit with such large increases in the future
