The Rate Setting Process
Monterey One Water’s rates are updated annually to generate sufficient revenue to fund operations, maintenance, and other support activities related to wastewater treatment. Note wastewater or sewer collection is the responsibility of your city who uses its own process to determine collection fees.
The methodology used to update treatment rates involves five basic steps:
- Determine revenue required from rates.
- Allocate revenue requirements among billable parameters (wastewater flow, waste strength, solids, and other categories).
- Develop unit costs that apply to all customers using revenue allocations.
- Determine the revenue required from each customer class based on unit costs and discharge from each class.
- Develop rates for each customer class based on revenue requirements and units of use.
Rates are described in more detail in the Proposition 218 notice mailed to property owners when a change in rates is being considered.
Current Rate Determination Details
Appropriate Units of Use
The rates for each customer class are based on appropriate units of use. The following are some examples of units of use:
| Class | Units of Use |
|---|
| Hotels/Motels | Number of rooms |
| Residential (Multi-Family) | Number of living units |
| Restaurants | Number of seats |
| Schools | Number of students/teacher/administration (population) |
Industrial & Some Commercial Users
Industrial and some commercial users are charged using the standard unit costs along with the applicable flow, strength, etc. of that waste. For some user categories, there may be a cost increase; for others, it may stay the same or even decrease. The calculation is based on historic data, state-imposed standards, and local flow information.
Because of this annual process, the percentage adjustment for each customer class may be different.
Rate Comparisons
M1W rates and charges continue to be among the lowest in California. For further information and rate comparisons, view the State Water Resources Control Board 2012 to 2013 Wastewater User Charge Survey (PDF).