On June 20, Desert Water Agency’s Board of Directors, made up of local community representatives, voted unanimously to approve the agency’s fiscal year 2017-2018 budget. The Board also allowed the planned rate increase to move forward and implemented late fees to cover the resources spent on delinquent accounts.
July 1, 2017 will kick off the new budget and new rates. The rate for water consumed will increase by 15 cents per unit (748 gallons) to $1.72 and the effect on the monthly meter charge would be a $3.71 increase for almost all residential customers.
The 2017-18 budget sets aside $3.3 million for pipeline replacement. The current and coming fiscal year top the record books for the agency’s spending on pipeline replacement.
Late fees, which were approved at this meeting, aim to reduce staff resources spent on handling delinquent accounts. They will also help to offset these costs. Should a bill remain unpaid by the time the next bill is issued, a $25 late fee will be added to the bill. The agency will have a new late fee and shutoff policy in effect July 1, 2017.
Customers will be notified about these changes in the customer newsletter sent with every bill and via the agency’s social media channels. For those customers concerned about affordability, DWA worked with United Way of the Desert to establish a customer assistance program called Help2Others. DWA employees and vendors contributed thousands of dollars to establish the fund for customers with financial need. For more information, call United Way of the Desert at 760-323-2731.
For more information on the proposed rate adjustment, please visit our Rate Plan page.