A San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled late Friday that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California owes the San Diego County Water Authority $43.4 million in prejudgment interest, in addition to the $188.3 million awarded on Aug. 28 as contract damages for illegal rates MWD charged from 2011 to 2014. The order brings the amount MWD owes the Water Authority to $231.7 million.
Category Archives: Budget & Rates
Water Authority Saves $15.1 Million with Bond Refunding
The San Diego County Water Authority on Wednesday priced a $195 million bond sale that will reduce the cost of financing vital water supply reliability projects over the next two decades.
MWD Adopts Unnecessary Rate Increases for 2015 and 2016 While Over-Collecting $350 Million from Ratepayers
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on Tuesday raised rates for 2015 and 2016 despite having projected cash reserves of $840 million – an amount that is $352 million above its board-adopted maximum reserve limit. MWD's board also voted to spend the over-collected revenue on unbudgeted expenses.
Water Authority Proposes 2015 Rates to Maintain Reliable Water Supply
The San Diego County Water Authority has proposed rates and charges for 2015 that support the agency’s commitment to water conservation during the statewide drought, help maintain its solid financial position, and incorporate new costs related to providing a safe and reliable water supply.
Water Authority Reduces Capital Spending, Lowers Budget for Fiscal Year 2015
The San Diego County Water Authority today cut its current two-year budget by $37 million, or 2.5 percent, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce costs, adopt efficiencies and leverage partnerships while maintaining critical programs. It was the first time in at least a decade that the agency has de-appropriated money during a budget cycle because of savings in its Capital Improvement Program.
San Diego County Water Authority Wins Landmark Ruling in Rate Challenge Against Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
In a major victory for the San Diego County Water Authority and water ratepayers throughout San Diego County, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Curtis E. A. Karnow today tentatively ruled that in setting rates for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California violated cost of service requirements of California’s Constitution, statutes and common law. Specifically, Judge Karnow’s tentative determination is that MWD’s rates violate:
State Supreme Court Denies Review of Rate Case, Confirms Important Victories
The California Supreme Court today denied a petition by the San Diego County Water Authority to review an appellate court ruling in a case of statewide significance over rates set by the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. After winning significant victories in the trial court and the appellate court, the Water Authority petitioned the state Supreme Court in July on one single question: whether MWD may add State Water Project supply costs to the price it charges to transport the Water Authority’s independent supplies of Colorado River water through MWD’s aqueduct. The trial court ruled MWD could […]
Water Authority Recommends $1.6 Billion Budget for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019
The San Diego County Water Authority’s general manager on Thursday recommended a $1.6 billion budget for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, up 2 percent from the current two-year budget due largely to increasing costs of water supplies and treatment. The recommended budget holds expenses in check as the Water Authority continues its transition from building infrastructure to maintaining facilities, and it enables the agency to continue to make prudent investments to protect and maximize the value of the region’s water supplies and infrastructure. More than 90 percent of the recommended budget is for the purchase and treatment of water as well […]
Water Authority Proposes 3.7 Percent Rate Increases for 2018
The San Diego County Water Authority on Thursday announced that it will recommend increasing rates charged to its member agencies by 3.7 percent for both untreated and treated water in calendar year 2018, mostly because of higher rates and charges from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The proposed rate increases are the smallest since 2014 and are in line with Water Authority projections. Approximately 56 percent of the overall increase is driven by rising costs from MWD, which increased its base supply rates and also raised its costs for transporting the Water Authority’s independent supplies of Colorado River […]
Public Opinion Poll Shows High Level of Confidence in Region’s Water Supply Reliability
In the wake of one of the most significant droughts in California’s history, public confidence in the reliability of the San Diego region’s water supply has grown to extraordinarily high levels, according to the San Diego County Water Authority’s most recent public opinion poll. Residents also continued to show strong support for the region’s water supply diversification strategy, using water efficiently and the value of water compared to other utilities. The Water Authority has performed periodic public opinion research for more than 17 years to determine local residents’ knowledge and attitudes regarding water issues. The latest poll of 1,001 adults […]