THOUSAND OAKS : Council to Consider Tiered Water Rates

Thousand Oaks residents who conserve water may get a break in their bills, under a proposed tiered-rate system that the City Council will consider Tuesday.

Utilities Director Donald Nelson has recommend changing the city’s rate structure, which now stands at a flat $1.54 for every unit of water, defined as 748 gallons.

The new system would drop the rate to $1.39 for the first 26 units a customer uses during the bimonthly billing period, and raise it to $1.79 for each additional unit.

An average residential customer, going through 36 units every two months, would see bills decrease by $1.40 under the tiered system. Conservation-minded consumers who limit their water use to 26 units would save $3.90. And those who leave the taps running would see their rates jump substantially--a hike of $7.60 per bill for customers who use twice the average amount of water.

“If you use more water, you pay more--that’s the name of the game,” Councilman Frank Schillo said.

The tiered charges would apply to about 90% of the city’s water accounts. Only commercial, multifamily and irrigation accounts would remain on the fixed-rate system.

The council will hold a public hearing, probably in late October, before formally approving the rates. Tuesday’s action will be limited to conceptual approval of the tiered rate structure.

Also on Tuesday, the council will decide whether to survey residents to determine if bimonthly or monthly water bills are more convenient.