Why doesnt SSWD have a low-income program?
The District does not have a reduced rate for senior citizens or low-income customers. Unlike AT&T and PG&E, who are private utilities regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, Sacramento Suburban Water District is a publicly owned water utility (a form of local government call a special district) regulated by the State of California Department of Public Health and State Water Code laws. The District is further regulated by Proposition 218 passed by California voters in 1996. The Districts rates and charges are approved by our elected Board of Directors in compliance with state law. In particular, Proposition 218 prohibits the District from collecting from any customer more than the amount required to provide water service to that parcel. Because providing a reduced rate to certain age- or income-qualified ratepayers would require other ratepayers to subsidize the low reduced rate ratepayers, those paying the subsidy would be paying in excess of the cost of service to th
