Beverly Hills : City Water Rates to Rise

The City Council approved without comment new water rates that eliminate the penalties in place during the drought but raise rates for some households by 20% to 44%.

The new schedule, which will go into effect July 1, coincides with a price increase by the city’s water supplier, the Metropolitan Water District.

The rates, which were proposed by the Public Works Commission and city staff, call for a flat service charge of $12.33 for single-family homes, with additional fees based on actual water consumption to be billed every two months.

Customers will be charged $1.09 per unit for the first 10 units of water consumed over a two-month period. A unit is equal to 748 gallons, and the average use is 55 units.

Customers will be charged $1.20 per unit for the next 45 units. For each unit over 55, the charge will be $1.76.

In addition, the city will charge 47 cents per unit to pay for maintaining about 80 miles of city water lines and pumping stations.

Similar schedules will apply to multifamily buildings and to commercial and industrial users.

Small-volume users will pay lower fees per unit but will have the largest percentage increase, with bills rising as much as 44.39%. Residents who now pay $30.91 for 20 units will pay $44.63, or $13.72 more, under the new plan.

The new rates will pass on to residents an increase from the Metropolitan Water District of about 10% and spread water costs more evenly among all users, said City Manager Mark Scott.