Cambios en las tarifas
Información sobre las tarifas de agua y aguas residuales adoptadas para julio de 2023-2024.
Cambios adoptados en las tarifas del agua
Uno de los principales objetivos de la División de Recursos Hídricos de la Ciudad es suministrar agua potable segura y fiable que cumpla o supere todas las normas de calidad del agua. Para lograr este objetivo, las tarifas se fijan de forma que generen ingresos suficientes para invertir en mejoras de capital, cumplir las normas obligatorias de tratamiento, atender las obligaciones de la deuda y equilibrar las reservas. Los aumentos de tarifas de agua adoptados por la ciudad financiarán las inversiones necesarias para garantizar que la ciudad siga suministrando agua potable segura y fiable a nuestros clientes.
Tarifas volumétrico del agua
Todas las tarifas se expresan en $/HCF. 1 HCF (cien pies cúbicos) = 748 galones.
Clase de cliente |
Niveles |
AF23 |
AF24 (actual) |
---|---|---|---|
Residencial unifamiliar |
Primeros 4 HCF |
$4.85 |
$5.10 |
Residencial multifamiliar |
Primeros 4 HCF (por unidad de vivienda) |
$4.85 |
$5.10 |
Comercial/Industrial |
100% de la asignación básica |
$7.40 |
$7.77 |
Riego residencial y comercial |
100% del presupuesto mensual de agua |
$14.46 |
$15.19 |
Riego – Recreación/Parques/Escuelas |
100% del presupuesto mensual de agua |
$5.59 |
$5.98 |
Riego - Agricultura |
100% del presupuesto mensual de agua |
$3.63 |
$3.98 |
Agua reciclada |
Todos los HCF |
$4.75 |
$4.99 |
Cargos mensuales por servicio de agua
Tarifas basadas en el tamaño del medidor.
|
5/8” |
3/4” |
1” |
1 ½” |
2” |
3” |
4” |
6” |
8” |
10” |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AF23 |
$31.05 |
$45.45 |
$74.26 |
$146.27 |
$232.69 |
$506.35 |
$909.64 |
$1,874.64 |
$3,458.98 |
$5,475.41 |
AF24 (actual) |
$32.60 |
$47.73 |
$77.97 |
$153.59 |
$244.33 |
$531.67 |
$955.12 |
$1,968.37 |
$3,631.93 |
$5,749.18 |
Rate Comparisons with Neighboring Agencies
Proposed Volumetric Water Rates
All rates are in $/HCF. 1 HCF (Hundred Cubic Feet) = 748 gallons.
|
|
| Proposed | |||
Customer Class | Tiers | Current | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 | FY28 |
Single Family Residential | First 4 HCF | $5.10 | $5.49 | $6.06 | $6.67 | $7.34 |
Next 12 HCF | $15.19 | $15.31 | $16.92 | $18.61 | $20.47 | |
All other HCF | $28.54 | $34.90 | $38.56 | $42.42 | $46.66 | |
Multi-Family Residential | First 4 HCF (per dwelling unit) | $5.10 | $5.49 | $6.06 | $6.67 | $7.34 |
Next 4 HCF (per dwelling unit) | $15.19 | $15.31 | $16.92 | $18.61 | $20.47 | |
All other HCF | $28.54 | $34.90 | $38.56 | $42.42 | $46.66 | |
Commercial/Industrial | 100% of base allotment | $7.77 | $8.19 | $9.05 | $9.96 | $10.96 |
All other HCF | $28.45 | $37.82 | $41.80 | $45.98 | $50.58 | |
Irrigation – Residential & Commercial | 100% of monthly water budget* | $15.19 | $15.31 | $16.92 | $18.61 | $20.47 |
All other HCF | $28.54 | $34.90 | $38.56 | $42.42 | $46.66 | |
Irrigation – Recreation/Parks/Schools | 100% of monthly water budget* | $5.98 | $7.26 | $8.02 | $8.82 | $9.70 |
All other HCF | $28.54 | $34.90 | $38.56 | $42.42 | $46.66 | |
Irrigation – Agriculture | 100% of monthly water budget* | $3.98 | $5.13 | $5.67 | $6.24 | $6.86 |
All other HCF | $28.54 | $34.90 | $38.56 | $42.42 | $46.66 | |
Recycled Water | All HCF | $4.99 | $6.10 | $6.74 | $7.41 | $8.15 |
*The Monthly Water Budget for irrigation accounts is a calculation of Tier 1 allotment based on the property’s irrigated landscape area and the monthly watering needs of plants.
Proposed Maximum Fixed Monthly Service Charges
Charges based on meter size.
| 5/8” | 3/4” | 1” | 1 ½” | 2” | 3” | 4” | 6” | 8” | 10” | |
Current | $32.60 | $47.73 | $77.97 | $153.59 | $244.33 | $531.67 | $955.12 | $1,968.37 | $3,631.93 | $5,749.18 | |
Proposed | FY25 | $36.21 | $52.50 | $85.09 | $166.55 | $264.30 | $573.86 | $1,030.06 | $2,121.66 | $3,913.84 | $6,194.80 |
FY26 | $40.01 | $58.01 | $94.02 | $184.04 | $292.05 | $634.12 | $1,138.22 | $2,344.43 | $4,324.79 | $6,845.25 | |
FY27 | $44.01 | $63.81 | $103.42 | $202.44 | $321.26 | $697.53 | $1,252.04 | $2,578.87 | $4,757.27 | $7,529.78 | |
FY28 | $48.41 | $70.19 | $113.76 | $222.68 | $353.39 | $767.28 | $1,377.24 | $2,836.76 | $5,233.00 | $8,282.76 |
Proposed Residential Volumetric & Fixed Wastewater Rates (Table 1)
1 HCF (hundred cubic feet) = 748 gallons. FY = fiscal year July 1—June 30
|
|
| Proposed | |||
Customer Class | Charge Type | Current | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 | FY28 |
Single Family Residential | Monthly Base Charge ($/Dwelling Unit) | $27.00 | $29.90 | $32.74 | $35.85 | $39.26 |
Usage Charge up to 8 HCF ($/HCF) | $4.28 | $4.53 | $4.96 | $5.43 | $5.95 | |
Multi-Family Residential 4 or less Dwellings | Monthly Base Charge ($/Dwelling Unit on account) | $27.00 | $29.90 | $32.74 | $35.85 | $39.26 |
Usage Charge ($/HCF) | $4.28 | $4.53 | $4.96 | $5.43 | $5.95 | |
Multi-Family Residential 5+ Dwellings | Monthly Base Charge ($/Dwelling Unit on account) | $27.00 | $29.90 | $32.74 | $35.85 | $39.26 |
Usage Charge ($/HCF) | $4.28 | $4.53 | $4.96 | $5.43 | $5.95 |
Commercial and Commercial High Strength/Industrial customers are charged a fixed charge dependent on meter size (Tables 2-3), or a volumetric charge dependent on the quantity of water consumed (Table 4), whichever is greater.
Proposed Commercial Wastewater Fixed Charges (Table 2)
Charges based on water meter size.
| 5/8” | 3/4” | 1” | 1 ½” | 2” | 3” | 4” | 6” | 8” | 10” |
Current | $51.69 | $77.54 | $90.46 | $129.23 | $206.76 | $387.68 | $646.13 | $1,292.25 | $2,067.60 | $2,972.18 |
FY 2025 | $53.28 | $79.92 | $93.24 | $133.20 | $213.12 | $399.60 | $666.00 | $1,332.00 | $2,131.20 | $3,063.60 |
FY 2026 | $58.34 | $87.51 | $102.10 | $145.85 | $233.36 | $437.55 | $729.25 | $1,458.50 | $2,333.60 | $3,354.55 |
FY 2027 | $63.88 | $95.82 | $111.79 | $159.70 | $255.52 | $479.10 | $798.50 | $1,597.00 | $2,555.20 | $3,673.10 |
FY 2028 | $69.95 | $104.92 | $122.41 | $174.87 | $279.79 | $524.61 | $874.36 | $1,748.72 | $2,797.94 | $4,022.04 |
Proposed Commercial High Strength/Industrial Wastewater Fixed Charges (Table 3)
Charges based on water meter size.
| 5/8” | 3/4” | 1” | 1 ½” | 2” | 3” | 4” | 6” | 8” | 10” |
Current | $59.70 | $89.55 | $104.48 | $149.25 | $238.80 | $447.75 | $746.25 | $1,492.50 | $2,388.00 | $3,432.75 |
FY 2025 | $66.31 | $99.47 | $116.04 | $165.78 | $265.24 | $497.33 | $828.88 | $1,657.75 | $2,652.40 | $3,812.83 |
FY 2026 | $72.61 | $108.92 | $127.07 | $181.53 | $290.44 | $544.58 | $907.63 | $1,815.25 | $2,904.40 | $4,175.08 |
FY 2027 | $79.51 | $119.27 | $139.14 | $198.78 | $318.04 | $596.33 | $993.88 | $1,987.75 | $3,180.40 | $4,571.83 |
FY 2028 | $87.06 | $130.59 | $152.36 | $217.65 | $348.24 | $652.95 | $1,088.25 | $2,176.50 | $3,482.40 | $5,005.95 |
Proposed Volumetric Commercial Wastewater Rates in $/HCF (Table 4)
|
| Proposed | |||
Customer Class | Current | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 | FY28 |
Commercial | $5.27 | $6.56 | $7.18 | $7.86 | $8.61 |
Commercial High Strength/Industrial | $6.65 | $7.23 | $7.92 | $8.67 | $9.49 |
Proposed Wastewater Strength Surcharges in $/lb (Table 5)
If the City’s Water Resources Laboratory determines that a customer has exceeded the high strength discharge limit for Biochemical Oxygen (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), or Ammonia, a surcharge will be assessed for each constituent in excess of its relative limit.
| Current | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 | FY28 |
BOD (>750 mg/l) | $0.34 | $0.30 | $0.33 | $0.36 | $0.39 |
TSS (>850 mg/l) | $0.48 | $0.58 | $0.64 | $0.70 | $0.77 |
Ammonia (>90 mg/l) | $1.17 | $1.37 | $1.50 | $1.64 | $1.80 |
Preguntas frecuentes
La mayoría de los costos para operar el sistema de agua de la Ciudad y entregar agua potable, segura y fiable son costes fijos que no cambian según la disponibilidad de agua. Independientemente de cuánto haya llovido en el último año, la ciudad debe operar y mantener más de 320 millas de tuberías principales de agua, tratar 10.2 millones de galones de agua al día, realizar más de 1000 pruebas de calidad del agua al mes e invertir en importantes proyectos de capital para mantener el sistema de agua funcionando sin problemas en lugar de esperar a hacer reparaciones de emergencia imprevistas y costosas. Como todos los demás bienes y servicios, los materiales físicos que necesita la ciudad para hacer funcionar el sistema de agua, como los materiales de las tuberías principales, han aumentado drásticamente en los últimos años.
¡Además, recuerde que la factura de los servicios públicos municipales es mucho más que su factura del agua. Para la mayoría de los residentes, su factura de servicios públicos de la ciudad puede ser hasta tres facturas de servicios públicos en uno. Todos los servicios públicos de la ciudad (agua, alcantarillado, basura y reciclaje) se facturan en una sola factura. En la segunda página de la factura se desglosan todos los gastos por servicio.
Para un cliente unifamiliar típico con servicio de agua, alcantarillado, basura y reciclaje con un consumo medio de agua y el nivel más común de servicio de basura y reciclaje, la factura total de servicios públicos aumentará unos $6, o un 2.4%. Consulte el siguiente cuadro para ver un desglose del cambio en el coste.
UUT = Utility Users Tax, un impuesto del 6% que grava diversos servicios públicos dentro de la ciudad, incluido el servicio de agua.
La ciudad hace todo lo posible para mantener las tarifas lo más bajas posible para nuestros clients y, al mismo tiempo proporciona ingresos suficientes para operar y mantener el sistema de agua.
En 2020, Santa Bárbara firmó un acuerdo de venta de agua con Montecito Water District para el suministro mayorista a largo plazo de agua procedente de la planta desalinizadora Charles E. Meyer. Este acuerdo ayudó a compensar los costes y mantener las tarifas más bajas para los clientes de Santa Bárbara. Sin este acuerdo, la ciudad habría tenido que considerar aumentar las tarifas por encima de lo adoptado, reducir las inversiones de capital previstas en infraestructuras anticuadas o recurrir a una combinación de estas medidas. El continuo aplazamiento de la financiación de capital habría llevado a una inversión insuficiente en el sistema de agua y a mayores costes de mantenimiento en el futuro.
La ciudad también ha puesto en marcha una estrategia de subvenciones que implica identificar, rastrear, preposicionar y perseguir todas las subvenciones a las que puede optar la empresa de suministro de agua.
Seguimos ofreciendo los programas de asistencia al cliente , que incluyen planes de pago, exenciones de impuestos sobre servicios públicos asistencia de agua para hogares de bajos ingresos, y alivio de fugas. Si desea más información sobre nuestros programas de asistencia al cliente, póngase en contacto con nuestro departamento de Facturación de servicios públicos.
El programa de conservación de agua de la ciudad también ofrece reembolsos para ayudarle a ahorrar agua y dinero.
Verá las nuevas tarifas FY24 en su primera factura cuando la fecha de inicio del periodo de servicio sea el 1 de julio de 2023 o posterior. Estas facturas se enviarán a los clientes a partir de septiembre de 2023.
Development projects are required to pay capacity charges for new or increased water connections. This is because existing customers have been funding the utility system assets such as pipes, pumping stations, treatment plants and reservoirs through their monthly water bill payments. Capacity charges make it equitable for new and existing customers to be billed at the same rates. Water and sewer capacity charges for a new 5/8” meter (the smallest meter the City offers) total about $14,400 for a home or small commercial development project. Charges for larger meters increase based on meter size.
The water use from development projects add, on average, 40 acre-feet per year which is 0.35% of our annual water demand. In the City, almost all development is redevelopment, as there are very few vacant parcels. Some projects result in a net water reduction in water use due to stringent plumbing codes and landscape requirements that promote more efficient water use.
The City is a leader in water conservation and has designed its rate structure to promote the efficient use of water. Water bills are made up of two key components: (1) a volumetric charge based on water use and (2) a fixed monthly service charge based on meter capacity. Even though most of the costs to maintain and operate the water system are fixed, the City’s water rate structure is designed to minimize increases to fixed charges and collect most of the revenue (~70%) through volumetric charges, which are dependent on water usage.
This gives customers more of an opportunity to reduce their water bill by decreasing water use. In addition to the fixed and volumetric rate structure, the residential tiers, commercial base allotments, and irrigation water budgets are designed to promote conservation and allocate costs appropriately to efficient and discretionary water use. The City’s tiered rate structure is supported with a diverse water supply portfolio, with different supply costs for each of the City’s associated water sources.
Water affordability, conservation, and equitable access were identified as important community values in the Water Vision Santa Barbara effort conducted in 2020. Providing affordable and equitable access to clean water is a primary objective of the City’s Water Resources Division. To meet this objective, the City partnered with the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) to conduct a Water Affordability and Conservation Study to better understand challenges and opportunities related to water affordability.
This study leveraged Census data along with household-level water consumption and billing data to reveal impacts to the lowest income households and variation in affordability issues across different areas of the City. The study included an assessment of water affordability, community outreach and engagement, example affordability and assistance programs across California, and strategies to mitigate water affordability challenges.
The City is in the process of prioritizing the Study’s strategies for implementation; the community is encouraged to participate in this public process by tuning in to or attending Water Commission meetings.