CALAVERAS PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT ADOPTS RATE INCREASE

New rates to take effect this billing cycle starting August 26, 2019

SAN ANDREAS, Calif. – August 19, 2019 – After considering all public testimony, Calaveras Public Utility District Board of Directors voted on August 13, 2019 to adopt new water rates. Consideration for the rate increase has been in discussion since 2018 when the first attempt to pass an increase was rejected by the District’s board.

“We listened and learned from the previous attempt and spent the last 18 months diligently working to come up with a new rate proposal,” states District Manager Donna Leatherman. The revised rate study took three key components into consideration, which resulted in a 17% decrease from the previous proposed rate adjustment. Considerations included:

• Capital improvement projects to be funded by a rate increase decreased by $270,000;
• District Board implemented the Reserve Policy to fund planned capital improvement projects; and
• Existing reserves will fund 90 percent of the capital improvements for the five-year list of projects.

Customers will see the newly adopted rates starting on the August 26th billing cycle. “While rate increases are never pleasant, we find it necessary to secure the financial stability of the District,” says J.W. Dell’Orto, Board Chair. “We appreciate the time and effort the public gave to participate in the process by attending meetings and submitting comments. District staff and the board have a responsibility to our customers to be fiscally prudent while maintaining the health and safety of our complex water system, and we will do that.”