San Diego Council Approves Flat Water Rates for Single-Family Homes

San Diego water bills are set to change structure in January as the city moves to a flat-rate model for single-family homes. The shift follows a legal defeat that required the city to abandon its previous tiered pricing system.

The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 on Tuesday to adopt the new billing framework. The decision aligns with a separate, previously approved rate increase that also takes effect in January. Under the old system, customers paid different rates per unit based on consumption levels, rewarding those who used less water.

The new structure charges customers solely based on the total volume of water used. This removes the tiered incentives that previously subsidized efficient users. A city staff member presenting the agenda item told council members the city disagreed with the court’s ruling but was legally obligated to comply.

Financial impacts vary by usage level. The city estimates the average monthly bill for a low-use single-family customer will rise by approximately $6. Conversely, high-use customers are expected to see their monthly bills decrease by $20. The city is also responsible for a $40 million settlement stemming from the case.

Council member Sean Elo-Rivera, representing District 9, criticized the outcome during the vote. He stated that the change imposes a penalty on residents who conserve water. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2015 by Daniel Patz and others, challenged the tiered system as unfair. The city attempted to reverse the ruling through appeals but was unsuccessful.

Residents in a region prone to drought have expressed mixed reactions to the loss of conservation incentives. Isabel Jordan noted that while she initially favored equal rates, she understood the previous system’s role in subsidizing efficient water use. The city acknowledged that even small increases affect households that made efforts to reduce consumption.