Public Works Commission approves FY27 water and sewer rates with AMI opt-out fee deferred.
Public Works Commission · Meeting of May 13, 2026
CONCORD — Public Works Commission approves fiscal 2027 water and sewer rates with one-year deferral on smart meter opt-out fees. The Commission endorsed a 5 percent sewer user rate increase and a 12.5 percent water user rate increase, part of a five-year escalation plan to fund treatment upgrades and aging infrastructure replacement. The Sewer Improvement Fee for new connections climbs to $60 per gallon, up from $40.07, with projects already in the planning pipeline allowed until July 1, 2026, to lock in the current rate.
Public comment raised concerns over a $500 meter installation fee and $25 monthly reading fee for residents refusing automated meters, but Director Cathcart and Superintendent Darin LaFalam explained these reflect actual out-of-pocket equipment and labor costs; the Commission voted 4-0-1 to defer the opt-out fee assessment one year pending staff analysis of true service costs and customer demand.
In the full story:
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Source: the Public Works Commission meeting of May 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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