At a time when most household expenses are going up, a lower SAWS bill would be both unexpected and welcomed. But that’s exactly what will happen if a dedicated group of citizen volunteers get their way.
When the SAWS Rate Advisory Committee, or RAC, was assembled earlier this year to review the utility’s rate structure, one priority stood out above the rest: making essential water and sewer service affordable to all.
“Developing a strategy that would ease the financial challenges many San Antonians have … was very much a priority for the RAC members,” said Frances Gonzalez, RAC chairwoman.
Under the proposed rate structure, 100% of residential bills will reflect reduced wastewater charges, while 83% will include reduced water charges. For customers who meet income requirements and enroll in SAWS’ Affordability Discount Program, 98% of bills will be lower.
The new structure also adds additional pricing signals for outdoor water use, to further promote conservation.
SAWS completes a rate study about every five years. This helps ensure water and wastewater rates are enough to cover operating costs and invest in infrastructure, fairly share those costs across each customer type, and reflect the community’s values.
The committee is made up of customers from every part of SAWS’ service area, including residential, multifamily and recycled water customers, as well as large and small businesses, manufacturers, and environmental and community groups.
The SAWS Board was briefed on the recommendations in August and will vote on the proposal later this fall. The changes will then go to San Antonio City Council for final consideration, aiming for a January 2023 effective date.
To learn more about the rate proposal and see how your own bill will be affected, visit saws.org/rac.