District considers nearly 14 percent water rate hike

Ramona Municipal Water District water customers will have a chance to voice their opinions on proposed water rate increases of nearly 14 percent at a public hearing on Aug. 11.

The hearing will be held during the water board’s regular meeting that will begin at 2 p.m. in the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. The new rates, if approved by the board, will go into effect Sept. 1 for the district’s 2015-16 fiscal year.

If customers cut back on water use, as mandated by the state, they will feel less impact, said district staff.

Still, many customers question why they have to pay higher rates when using less water. Richard Hannasch, the district’s financial services director, told the board in June that less water sales means less revenue for the district to maintain infrastructure to provide water service.

For general treated water, the charge would increase from $5.74 per unit to $6.54. One unit of water is about 748 gallons.

The rates include the district’s energy/pumping charge that is going up from 98 cents per unit to $1.02. RMWD said its San Diego Gas & Electric costs increased 7.5 percent from January to April.

The district purchases electricity and natural gas from SDG&E to operate its pumps in Poway to deliver water from the San Diego County Water Authority line up to Ramona. Last November the district installed at its Poway Pump Station, a natural gas-powered engine, as a back-up power source that could operate during peak electrical times, possibly saving the district money.

Director Joe Zenovic asked Hannasch in June about any savings, but Hannasch said it was too early to tell.

The monthly water system charge is also proposed to increase with the average meter size of 5/8 rising from $28.61 per month to $32.33.

For a household that does not conserve and uses 15 units of water, the new monthly bill would be $130.43, according to the district.

Conserving is the key to offset the increase, noted the district.

If a customer who normally uses 15 units of water per month conserves 28 percent, the monthly bill wold be $102.96, said the district.

The Ramona district is mandated by the state to reduce residential water use by 28 percent. The State Water Resources Control Board began assessing agencies’ compliance in July.

The general untreated water rate is proposed for a 14.3 percent hike, from $5.02 to $5.74.

Agricultural customers in the Special Agricultural Water Rate (SAWR) program could see a 16 percent increase for treated water and 16.8 percent for untreated water.

RMWD normally seeks board approval for rates prior to July 1, when the new fiscal year begins, but it delayed the decision until San Diego County Water Authority issued its rate increase for 2016. The water authority is Ramona’s sole water supplier.

On June 25, the CWA board adopted rate increases for 2016 of 6.6 percent for untreated water and 5.4 percent for treated water, but in a press releases noted that increases would vary among the water authority’s 24 member agencies based on differing circumstances.

The district said its rates and fees are based on results from an independent consulting firm, Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc, which reviewed operations costs, maintenance requirements and infrastructure needs.

Customers who cannot attend the public hearing can submit written protests by mail or in person to the Ramona Municipal Water District, 105 Earlham St., Ramona, CA 92065. Protests must be received before the close of the hearing.

Oral comments at the hearing will not qualify as formal protests unless accompanied by a written protest.

On June 23, the water board approved sewer rate hikes of 6 percent for Santa Maria plant customers and 7.5 percent for San Vicente plant customers. The rates became effective July 1.

The water board approved increases in ambulance and paramedic services fees at its July 14 meeting.