Adjustment to Water Rates

Adjustments to Water Rates

The City of Paso Robles will gradually phase in water rate adjustments from 2023-2027 to support water system operating and maintenance expenses, fund the City’s share of debt service for the Nacimiento Water Project, and provide funding for capital improvements needed to support safe and reliable service. The City’s water utility is a self‐supporting enterprise that relies primarily on service charge revenues to meet annual funding needs. As such, water rates need to be set at levels adequate to fund the costs of providing service.

The City’s water bills for a typical home are currently in the lower‐middle range based on a survey of 18 regional agencies. With the proposed rate increases, typical residential water bills are projected to remain in the middle range.  More information on new water rates is available in the notice that was sent to property owners and City water customers prior to the Public Hearing and adoption of the new water rates. (see the Notice of Public Hearing for Water Rate Adjustments PDF).

Property owners of record and customers liable for payment of water rates were provided with a notice of the proposed changes to water rates which included instructions for submitting a written protest against the proposed rates.  Written protests were required to: a) identify the affected property or properties by Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) or address, b) include the name and original signature of the customer or property owner submitting the protest and c) indicate opposition to the proposed water rates.  

The City held a public hearing on the proposed water rate increases on December 20, 2022, according to information in the Public Notice.  Adjustments to water rates went into effect in April of 2023.

Read the Notice of Public Hearing for Water Rate Adjustments (PDF)

Water Rate Study October 2022 (PDF)