5 Year Rate Schedule
Approved by Board in 2021
- Posted
- Updated July 1, 2023
Important Information About Your Rates
Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD) conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. to consider adopting a proposed water and sewer rate schedule. It was approved by the YLWD Board of Directors, and the first rate adjustment took effect on July 1, 2021. The Board may make subsequent rate adjustments annually on July 1 for the subsequent four fiscal years up to the maximum in the schedule.
Members of the public were encouraged to attend and participate in the public hearing on June 8.
Public Hearing Process
At the time of the public hearing, scheduled for 6:30 PM on June 8, 2021, the YLWD Board of Directors heard and considered all written protests and public comments.
After the hearing is closed, it was calculated that 1.4% of parcels protested the proposed schedule. Since a majority protest was not received, the YLWD Board of Directors could adopt the proposed rate schedule. It was adopted and the proposed became effective July 1, 2021, and subsequent adjustments would be proposed for July 1 for five subsequent years through 2026.
Watch the Town Hall
Watch the Public Hearing
YLWD conducted a public hearing on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. to consider adopting a proposed water and sewer rate schedule. Members of the public were encouraged to attend and participate in the public hearing on June 8. The YLWD Board of Directors heard and considered all written protests and public comments.
How Your Water Bill Is Calculated
YLWD is adopted a new water rate schedule because of the increasing costs of purchasing and delivering safe and reliable water as well as the increasing costs of operating, maintaining, repairing, and replacing the District’s water system.
Four components make up the YLWD water rate
1. Commodity Rate – The price per unit of water based on the amount of water used.
Proposed Adjustments Effective | 7/1/2020 | 7/1/2021 | 7/1/2022 | 7/1/2023 | 7/1/2024 | 7/1/2025 |
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2. Fixed Monthly Base (Meter) Charge – YLWD has fixed costs for the operations, maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of the water system irrespective of how much water is used by the customer.
Proposed Adjustments Effective | 7/1/2020 | 7/1/2021 | 7/1/2022 | 7/1/2023 | 7/1/2024 | 7/1/2025 |
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3. Capital (Finance) Charge – These are fixed charges based on the Debt Service Principal and Interest payments due per fiscal year as scheduled. These capital charges are based on debt issuance to pay for large-scale projects. The charge varies based on the customer’s meter-size connection and is collected on the annual property tax bill of the property owner.
Proposed Adjustments Effective | 7/1/2020 | 7/1/2021 | 7/1/2022 | 7/1/2023 | 7/1/2024 | 7/1/2025 |
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4. PFAS Charge – In order to comply with state regulations, YLWD was required to temporarily close its groundwater wells while it develops a water treatment system with OCWD to remove contaminants from the water and provide its customers water from imported sources, which is more than double the cost of groundwater. A PFAS charge runs from February 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021, and varies based on the customer’s meter-size connection.
Proposed Adjustments Effective | 7/1/2020 | 7/1/2021 |
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Pass-Through Water Rates
YLWD anticipates that both OCWD and MWDOC will increase the rates of the wholesale water they sell and deliver to the District and may impose other charges on the District related to their wholesale water service. It is also anticipated that the energy providers will increase the rates they impose on YLWD. In developing the model used to determine proposed rates, YLWD included projected annual increases to these costs as part of the financial plan. To ensure that there are sufficient revenues to provide water services to our customers, the District is proposing to annually pass through to customers any increases in the wholesale water and other wholesale water related charges, as well as increases in power/energy rates, imposed on the District that are greater than those projected and used in the model to develop the District’s Financial Plan (“Pass-Through Adjustment”). Any Pass-Through Adjustment will only impact the Monthly Commodity Rate as set forth in the preceding table. If approved, the Board of Directors may implement any Pass-Through Adjustment for the fiveyear period commencing July 1, 2021 through and including June 30, 2026. Provided, however, that (1) any increase in the rates described above as a result of any Pass-Through Adjustment shall not exceed ten percent (10%) per year and (2) in no event shall such rates be increased more than the cost of providing water service.
Private Fire Protection Charges
Certain (few) YLWD connections require a fixed monthly Fire Protection Charge that was a condition of extending or initiating water service. YLWD established charges for the monthly fire Protection Charge based on the meter size and the charges are calculated to recover the cost of providing water to such properties for private fire service protection.
Proposed Adjustments Effective | 7/1/2020 | 7/1/2021 | 7/1/2022 | 7/1/2023 | 7/1/2024 | 7/1/2025 |
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Drought Rates
YLWD does not propose to impose any penalty rate or mandatory conservation requirements on ratepayers. Mandates from the State of California and other agencies, however, are unavoidable and outside the control of YLWD. The proposed Drought Stage Rate Schedule would become effective under mandate by the State of California or other agency of authority for the minimum time allowable by law.
Proposed Adjustments Effective Proposed Monthly Commodity Rate per Unit of Water – 1ccf | 7/1/2021 $2.64/ccf | 7/1/2022 $2.88/ccf | 7/1/2023 $3.14/ccf | 7/1/2024 $3.43/ccf | 7/1/2025 $3.74/ccf |
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Sewer Rates
Residential customers pay a fixed flat charge for sewer service. Commercial customers pay both a flat rate as well as a variable volumetric charge based on the estimated amount of water returned to the sewer. There is no sewer rate charge for landscape/irrigation customers because water runoff is captured by the storm drain system. The sewer maintenance charge covers the operation and maintenance cost of the sewer system, which includes the repair, rehabilitation, and eventual replacement of the sewer pipes and equipment.
Proposed Adjustments Effective | 7/1/2020 | 7/1/2021 | 7/1/2022 | 7/1/2023 | 7/1/2024 | 7/1/2025 |
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How Will This Impact Me?
A specific impact analysis based on your consumption and meter size.
Discover how this will impact you!
How Is My Money Spent?
YLWD is a fiscally conservative steward of its customers’ ratepayer dollars. The District believes its customers should not only understand how their money is already being invested but also why the proposed rate increases may be necessary and what the new revenue will fund moving forward. Each dollar generated by the proposed rate increase would address rising costs of providing you with safe, clean, and reliable water as well as effective, efficient, and environmentally protective sewer disposal services.
*2023 Projected Spending
Why is a New Rate Schedule Being Considered?
- Fair treatment of all customers
- A charge reflective of the true cost of service
- Protecting the District’s financial stability and its ability to continue providing a high level of service.
Protecting Our Water Supply
YLWD has always prioritized delivering safe, high-quality water to its customers and is committed to continuing to do so. YLWD has partnered with the Orange County Water District (OCWD) to build a water treatment plant to use state-of-the-art technology to remove perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from the groundwater so it can be used for drinking water again. YLWD is currently providing its customers with imported water, which has no detectable levels of PFOA or PFOS. This water treatment plant is expected to cost over $20 million and the cost will be shared by YLWD and OCWD.
Fire-Hardening YLWD Facilities
In the wake of the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire, YLWD committed to firehardening its water and sewer facilities to the greatest extent feasible to ensure that YLWD can continue to provide water and sewer services while meeting the pressure and flow demands required during a fire.
- Relocated utilities to protect them from fire.
- Installed Backup Natural Gas Generators to allow YLWD to pump water even if the electric company plans a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
- Installed a helicopter hydrant in the Hidden Hills community to allow firefighting helicopters access to a local water source to drop more water in less time. This helicopter hydrant proved to be a valuable resource during the 2020 Blue Ridge Fire. Additional helicopter hydrants are planned along the wildland interface to further protect the community from fire.
- Planned second helicopter hydrant in the Camino De Bryand Community.
Legacy Obligations
YLWD has an obligation to pay down unfunded pension liabilities in order to ensure the long-term financial stability of the District. Once these past obligations are satisfied, YLWD has a financial plan to fully fund its pension obligations going forward.
What are Some of the Costs Associated with Water & Sewer Service?
- Energy – Statewide, nearly 20% of California’s energy consumption goes toward water-related uses. The amount of power needed to move, treat and purify drinking water before it gets to your tap is a significant percentage of the cost of service.
- Purchasing Imported Water – While YLWD and OCWD collaborate on the design, construction, and operation of a water treatment system to remove PFAS and PFOA contaminants from the groundwater, YLWD has no choice but to purchase higher-cost imported water to serve its customers. The cost of imported water is 127% more than groundwater.
- Groundwater Treatment – YLWD continues to comply with all state water quality regulations and is building a water treatment facility to regain access to high-quality groundwater free from contaminants.
- Sewer Treatment – Sewer water must be safely transported to the Orange County Sanitation District’s sewer collection, treatment, and disposal system. YLWD must maintain its sewer pipes in order to avoid any spills, which can lead to environmental impacts and substantial fines.
- Capital Infrastructure Improvements – The water and sewer systems are aging and many of the 56,000 assets are in need of repair or replacement. YLWD balances the effort to minimize the cost to deliver high-quality safe water with the essential need to maintain the systems and operations of the District. The total replacement value for all YLWD infrastructure is over $1 billion.
- Infrastructure Maintenance – Even a water and sewer system that does not currently need to be repaired or replaced, still requires regular maintenance to maximize its lifespan.
- Labor and Personnel – YLWD has a small, but mighty, staff that keeps the water flowing to and the sewer flowing from the homes and businesses throughout the service territory. Last year YLWD reduced the personnel count by 2.5 positions without losing service quality.
How Can I Learn More?
YLWD welcomes your input as its Board of Directors considers the changes explained in this notice. If you have questions or comments, you can:
Visit
The Proposed Water and Sewer Rate/Charge Schedule is available for review at the YLWD office located at 1717 E. Miraloma Ave. Placentia, CA 92870.
Call
You may also obtain information by calling the District at 714-701-3023 and ask for Alison Martin.
Website
YLWD has information online and you can calculate your own water rate estimate at ylwd.com/ratecalculator/.
If you have questions or comments, you can email Alison Martin at amartin@ylwd.com.
Virtual Town Hall
YLWD will post information about the proposed rate schedule on its social media platforms. Make sure you “like” YLWD and sign up for notifications.