DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
A briefing from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) on the 2020 Budget, pre-approved rate adjustments, and various projects to include the Consent Decree, Vista Ridge, Rate Study and Rate Advisory Committee, Affordability, recent high water usage, and Automated Metering Infrastructure.
SUMMARY:
SAWS will provide a briefing on the proposed 2020 Budget and adjustments to the Water Supply Fee rates and Recycled Water rates. The rate adjustments will result in an increase of 9.9% to the average residential bill for 2020. The purpose of this briefing is to inform City Council of key budget items as well as the drivers for the rate adjustment. No action is required at this meeting since the rate adjustment was previously approved.
Additionally, SAWS will provide an update on various projects to include the Consent Decree, Vista Ridge, Rate Study and Rate Advisory Committee, Affordability, recent high water usage, and Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On November 19, 2015, City Council approved rate adjustments for SAWS that included adjustments to water delivery, wastewater and the water supply core business units for 2016 and pre-approved rate caps for 2017. In addition, City Council approved the rate plan (rate caps) for 2018 through 2020 solely for the water supply core business and to support "financial closure" on the Vista Ridge Project. Table I below reflects the approved rate plan. The rate adjustment percentages are based on the impact to the average residential customer (assumes a monthly consumption of 7,092 gallons of water and 5,668 gallons of wastewater).
Table I
The pre-approved rates as outlined above were subject to a review by the Public Utilities Office. If the Public Utilities Office agrees with SAWS' request and the request does not exceed the pre-approved rate caps, the rates go into effect automatically...
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