Wholesale Water Rates to Rise, But Less Sharply, After Water Authority Board Vote

San Diego Union Tribune

Center

High Factuality

Individual: Patrick Soon-Shiong

Wholesale water rates won’t rise as sharply as feared. Here’s why that could still cost ratepayers.

Water rates in San Diego County won’t go up next year as sharply as some feared — but the county water authority’s efforts to keep rates low are becoming a significant threat to its credit rating. A sharply divided water authority board voted Thursday to reduce next year’s rate increase from 18 percent to 14 percent, which eases pressure on local water agencies to raise rates on their customers. But the possibility of shrinking the increase, whi…