PORT HUENEME, CA – Citizens of Port Hueneme are encouraged to attend a final workshop on the water rate changes. The information session will be held Thursday, January 23, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
The new water rate structure is designed to encourage water conservation. Under the changes, approximately 70 percent of customers will see their water bills decrease. Only the heaviest water users will pay more.
The city council authorized a study of its water rates in 2019. Water rates had not been changed by the city since 2012. The council’s goals were to ensure a sound revenue structure to operate the water system and have money for new capital needs; develop a rate structure that was fair and equitable, and recover city costs with minimal impacts to customers.
“The new rate structure accomplishes our goals,” said Mayor Laura Hernandez. “Those who conserve water will see their rates decrease.” Customers who use less than 700 hundred cubic feet of water per month (about 70 percent of the customers) will see their rates decrease.
Most of those whose bills increase will pay only about $20 more per month.
Cost of water and of delivering that water are increasing across the state of California, which is encouraging local cities to develop rate structures that reward and encourage those who conserve water.
All of the water delivered to customers in Port Hueneme is imported to the area (most from local wells in Ventura County). The infrastructure that delivers the water is aging and the city must replace miles of pipelines or risk disruption to the water delivery system.
“We encourage people to attend this workshop to learn how we are ensuring a safe and reliable water future for our citizens,” said Mayor Hernandez.
Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing – DONATE
