Helix water board discussing new rates

Helix Water District customers probably will see water rates rise in each of the next five years.

The Helix Water Board held a public workshop last week to review a consultant’s study of costs of services, rate structures and customer fees. The board was told why costs were increasing for the district.

“May I remind everyone we happen to be in a severe drought?” said Board Member John Linden. “I talked to the state water resources board chair... and if you think we’re out of this drought, forget about it. We’re going to be selling less water and (because of that) there will be more issues as far as our budget goes. We have to get this message out to customers.”

The board will take public comment on the report and then vote on the rate changes at a special board meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday at the district office, 7811 University Ave.

The average Helix customer using 26 units of water every two months pays $142.70 One unit is equal to 748 gallons. That cost would rise to $155.53 on Nov. 1 of this year, $173.55 in 2016, $194.09 in 2017, $208.19 in 2018 and $223.93 in 2019.`

In comparing other bimonthly water bills from jurisdictions in the county for 2015 Helix was just above average and nearly the same as the Otay Water District. Padre Dam Municipal was at the high end with Poway at the low end.

Helix customers in May were asked to conserve water as mandated by Gov. Jerry Brown. Customers have come through at the 20 percent rate the governor requested, but the net effect of that conservation means less water is being sold to district customers. The district’s 268,000 customers use a total of nearly 30 million gallons of water per day on average.

The district’s operating expenses, now $69 million, include the purchase of water, infrastructure, operations and administration, and employee pension costs.

If the board passes the new rates, a notice will be mailed Aug. 14 to customers. They would see the changes on their bills starting Jan. 1, 2016.