Introduced by: Councilmember Henry
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
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Informational Hearing - Water Affordability
For the purpose of requesting that representatives from the Department of Public Works and the Department of Finance, as well as independent experts, appear before the Council to discuss the burden of water bills on low-income households, senior citizens, and tenants and to discuss the potential for a more equitable rate structure design and a comprehensive affordability program to assist residents with unaffordable bills and prevent water service cut-offs.
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Recitals
Last year, the Department of Public Works cut off water service to more than 8,000 customers for nonpayment of overdue bills. Two-thirds of those customers were in the City, and all but 13 were residential accounts. Most of these households are located in census tracts with the lowest median household incomes. From April through October of every year, customers that owe more than $250 and are more than 6 months late on their water bills could lose running water in their homes for nonpayment.
Since 2013, water and sewer rates have risen 42 percent, and since 2008, water and sewer rates have doubled. Unlike most cities, the City has a declining block rate structure for water service, so customers pay less for higher volumes of water of used. As a result of this rate design, high-volume commercial accounts pay a lower average rate than households pay.
The United Nations Development Programme set a threshold for affordable water and sanitation service at 3 percent of household income. As of July 2015, the typical household in the City pays $892 a year for water and sewer service - an amount that would constitute at least 3.6 percent of the annual income for households that earn less than $25,00...
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