Ventura Restructures Water Rates : Utilities: The average households will see a slight decline in bills, but those who are thrifty or use too much face a 3.5% hike.

The Ventura City Council has decided to restructure water rates, increasing the basic rates by 3.5%, but giving a break to residents who use as much or slightly more water than the average household.

Under the new rates, which take effect in June, the average single-family household would actually see its $27.41 bimonthly bill decrease to $26.75. But those customers who are thrifty with their water or those who use more than 2 1/2 times the average household will see a 3.5% increase on their water bills.

The council late Monday narrowly approved the changes, which could lead to hiking rates by another 9.75% next year if Ventura residents continue to scrimp on their water usage over the next year.

Under the tiered water rates adopted during the drought, residents’ bills increase substantially as their consumption rises. In each successive tier, the cost per gallon increases, too.

The council decided to modify the tiers so that residents who pay higher prices per gallon when they use more than 8,976 gallons every two months will not be charged the steeper rates until they exceed 12,716 gallons. The next tier is also expanded, so that the steepest rates for water kick in at usage above 31,416 gallons instead of the current 17,952-gallon limit.

About 20% to 30% of the city’s 25,000 water customers would receive lower water bills under the new rate structure, city officials said.

Councilman Jack Tingstrom lobbied for no rate increases this year and possibly raising rates by 8.5% next year. Tingstrom said he thought residents would use more water and thus increase revenues without having to raise rates.

“Let’s just see what people will do,” Tingstrom said.

After years of pushing conservation, city officials Monday began encouraging residents to use more water to help raise revenue for drilling new wells, expanding a pumping station and other water projects.

Because of the drought, residents conserved so well that revenues have dropped substantially, city officials said.

Steve Bennett, an environmental activist who worked on a successful campaign for the city to build a desalination plant, said ongoing conservation efforts are vital to keeping water bills down.

“Although in the short run we have to pay more money for our water because conservation has caused lower total revenues, in the long run we’ll have lower water rates because we can build a smaller desal plant, so we don’t have to produce as much water,” Bennett said. “A little more water is OK, but it’s important not to give up our conservation habits.”

City officials said they are anticipating an 8% increase in water consumption during the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Residents are no longer being penalized for going over their allotments, and the new rate structure makes water cheaper for some residents.

“An increase in water usage in Ventura is not bad,” Councilman Tom Buford said. “It’s OK if people use a little more water. They’ve conserved. More water is available.”

Higher-than-normal rainfall for two straight years has refilled Lake Casitas, and replenished underground water reservoirs.

City staff members said the higher water rates are needed to pay for drilling new wells, building a new reservoir and expanding a water treatment plant and a pumping station.

But council members emphasized that they want residents to continue conserving water. Lifting penalties and changing the rate structure are rewards to residents who have done a good job of conserving, Mayor Gregory L. Carson said.

Council members said they anticipate raising rates again in 1994-95, but do not know how much. “No one knows exactly what will happen,” Buford said.

Hiking rates 9.75% is “a worst-case scenario,” said Ron Calkins, the city’s director of public works.

Last year, Ventura officials increased water and sewer rates by 17%, making the city’s rates the highest in the county. The council on Monday decided not to raise sewer fees.

Council members Buford, Gary Tuttle, Cathy Bean and Todd Collart voted for the measure to increase the rates. Mayor Carson, Councilmen Tingstrom and Jim Monahan cast dissenting votes.