Up Go Davis's Water Rates, But Some Will Qualify For Fee Assistance

In the wake of the city’s looming May 1 water rate increase, the Davis City Council voted Tuesday night to approve a water fee assistance program for homeowners. 

With the city’s new Lifeline Water Utility Rate Assistance Program, up to 250 qualifying residents could see some relief with a $10 rebate on their monthly utility bill. The council approved the plan Tuesday (March 19) for utility rate payers who own their homes. 

The Council is expected to revisit the program Tuesday, March 26 to see how the program can potentially benefit renters, said Kelly Stachowicz, Davis' deputy city manager. The program faces some legalities since water fees are often included in renters' lease payments. 

Funding for the program is expected to be paid for by fees generated from late utility rate payers, according to a staff report submitted to councilmembers. Council also directed staff to ask rate payers to donate to the program in their monthly utility bills. 

Initially under the proposed structure, if more than 250 ratepayers who qualify apply, then a random lottery would decide who is accepted into the program. The council is expected to revisit that as well and instead institute create a first come first serve basis to be accepted into the program, Stachowicz said. 

To be accepted into the program, rate users must qualify for the the Pacific Gas and Electric company’s California Alternate Rates for Energy or (CARE) program, Stachowicz confirmed.

To qualify, combined gross income must be at or lower than the amounts stipulated by the CARE program. The current gross incomes amounts begin, for example, at $22,340 for a home with one homeowner. In the middle of the CARE pay scale, a family of four making $46,100 would qualify. And, a family of eight would have to make no more than $77,780.

Program users will need to re-apply annually to re-qualify. Davis residents are PG&E utility customers.

Stachowicz said, after Tuesday's meeting, city officials hope to have the program available to users by the time rate increases begin in May. 

On March 5, residents voted to support Measure I approving a surface water project which when completed will pipe water from Sacramento to Davis. On Tuesday night the council voted to increase rates over the next five years to pay for the $113 million project. 

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