SAN ANTONIO – City Council is set to consider a long-range adjustment to San Antonio Water System rates that could raise monthly water bills for residential and other customers beginning in 2027.
An item on the City Council agenda for today, Oct. 8, calls for an ordinance approving adjustments to SAWS rates for Residential, General, Irrigation and Wholesale customers for 2027 through 2030.
The agenda lists Ben Gorzell Jr., chief of financial and administrative services, and Troy Elliott, chief financial officer for finance, in connection with the item.
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SAWS customers could see their monthly water bills rise over the next several years as the utility prepared to ask City Council to approve a rate increase of up to 30%. If approved, the increases would be phased in over four years beginning in 2027.
Under the proposal described in that earlier reporting, the average residential customer’s monthly bill would increase from about $56 to just over $73 by 2030.
As part of the proposal, SAWS agreed to delay millions of dollars in planned infrastructure projects rather than fund them immediately. Utility officials said postponing those projects would help reduce the size of the rate increases while still allowing SAWS to address long-term financial needs.
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The proposed increase comes as recent rainfall has helped replenish local water supplies and provided some relief for customers’ recent water bills. SAWS Chief Financial Officer Cecilia Velasquez said the utility has also seen changes in customer water use.
“We are seeing an increase in usage,” Velasquez said, noting that while many customers stay within the lower usage tiers, others are using more than 20,000 gallons of water each month.
SAWS officials were expected to present the proposal to City Council in the coming weeks, with a potential vote as early as October. If approved, the first rate increase would take effect in 2027, with additional increases phased in through 2030.
Council’s agenda for today, Oct. 8, also includes discussion and possible action to request SAWS and CPS Energy to perform operational and environmental assessments for providing services to the proposed detention center located at 542 S.E. Loop 410 Access Road.