Water and pumping rates in 2024 will increase due solely to increases from the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The increases will apply to water use on or after January 1 and will appear on bills mailed on or after February 1, 2024.
It is necessary to pass-through cost increases from CWA and SDG&E to ensure there are sufficient revenues to provide services to District customers and maintain the safety and reliability of infrastructure. One hundred percent of pass-through increases will be used to pay external providers. Padre Dam does not use any revenue from pass-throughs for its internal costs.
Padre Dam was able to offset half of CWA’s increase for 2024 with funds it received from a legal settlement. The settlement was the result of a decade-long rate case litigation against Metropolitan Water District where CWA won several critical issues and ultimately distributed settlement funds back to its member agencies.
As previously shared, Padre Dam’s Board adopted internal water and sewer rates for five years (Fiscal Year 2023 – Fiscal Year 2027) that provide a zero percent increase in District revenue and a zero percent internal rate increase to our typical residential customer. However, external service provider costs are not under the control of the District.
Padre Dam receives wholesale services from CWA and SDG&E. CWA sells drinking water to the District and SDG&E provides electricity to pump water to higher elevations within District boundaries.