Public Hearing on Proposed Increases in Water & Sewer Operational Rates

At the April 6, 2023 City Council Meeting, the Council voted unanimously to extend the public hearing to Thursday, April 20th for increasing the charges for water and sewer services. Jump to that portion of the meeting here.

Proposed water rate increases needed to pay for:

• the cost of water purchases
• operational costs, and
• ongoing maintenance and repairs of aging water mains and other infrastructure

Proposed sewer rate increases needed to cover:

• sewage treatment and disposal costs passed through from the City of San Francisco
• operational costs, and
• ongoing maintenance and repairs of the collection system and sewer mains

Projected Water & Sewer Operational Rate Increases

The City delayed implementing any rate increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many cities did up and down the Peninsula.  Our expenses are driven in large part by costs we incur from San Francisco for water purchase and sewage treatment.  These expenses have increased significantly in recent years.  As we have seen around the country, the impact of failing to maintain and manage key utility infrastructure can result in threats to public health and the environment.

The last time rates were raised was over 10 years ago.  The above chart and corresponding table show what the bimonthly bill for the average residential customer is forecast to be over the next 5 years if the new rates are adopted and includes all charges (water, sewer, capital charge, & drought surcharge).

Please see the newly-developed Frequently Asked Questions for more information.  The Water and Sewer Utility Rate Study is also available to view.

A presentation was given at the December 15, 2022 City Council Meeting where Council reviewed projected water and sewer rate increases and directed staff to begin the 218 process in order for the City to recover its full cost of providing water and sewer service.  View the presentation from that evening, and read the accompanying staff report.  The proposed rate increases do not include the Capital Projects Charge or Drought Contingency Charge.

Financial Hardship Assistance

The Low Income Rate Assistance (LIRA) Program is offered to current City of Brisbane Water & Sewer customers who are enrolled in PG&E’s Care Discount Program.  Once a customer is enrolled in the LIRA program, discounts will go into effect starting the next billing period.  Customers can apply for PG&E’s CARE discount program and/or find out if they are eligible at pge.com/CARE or by calling 1-866-743-2273.

Currently, the LIRA discount is comprised of various discounts per service (Water Service, Water Use, Sewer, and Fire Service).  There is a proposed change to make it a 25% discount for the entire bill to start.  Currently, the City spends approximately $40,000 each year from the City's General Fund for the LIRA program.

Understanding Your Bill

Water is billed based upon the number of units or CCFs you use for a 2-month period, plus the service charge for your meter.  One unit of water is 100 cubic ft. (1 CCF) or approximately 748 gallons.  If you’d like to discuss your bill in more detail, our Utility Billing staff is offering office hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am - noon and Wednesdays from 4pm - 6pm until further notice (you may also call 415-508-2154 anytime during business hours).

How to Participate in the 4/20 Public Hearing

The April 20, 2023 City Council Meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting.  You can join in-person at City Hall (50 Park Place, Brisbane) at 7:30pm or remotely via Zoom at brisbaneca.org/cc-zoom.