Increase coming for CalAm customers on Central Coast

If you live on the Monterey Peninsula and have California American Water as your provider, you’ll be seeing an increase in your water bill soon.

The rate changes are going to be taking effect May 11th.

CalAm says you should be seeing them in your May or June bill.

They say the changes are mostly to take care of the peninsula’s infrastructure.

“Your water bill is based on cost, it’s based on the cost of providing the service of treating and delivering and producing water,” Catherine Stedman, a CalAm spokesperson said.

What’s called a “General Rate Case” comes around every three years, the increase this time is $9.39.

Because the state public utilities commission delayed their decision to increase CalAm’s rate, it’s now being added at the same time as two other increases: A 2019 Step Rate, only $0.78 and $8.48 for the Monterey Pipeline and Pump Station to the typical current residential bill.

Thanks to CalAm customers conserving water recently, there is a $1.78 decrease.

The total amount to be added to the typical residential bill of $76.63 will be $16.87, bringing it up to $93.50.

CalAm says the increase though is an investment, especially the money going towards the controversial Monterey pipeline.

“[The pipeline is] really the first piece of major construction to get us to that reliable, sustainable water supply in the future” Stedman said, “We’ll definitely see more changes to the bill as we have the recycled water project come on line, pure water monterey and also the desalination plant in the future.”

Two public meetings are set to be held May 8th and 9th at the CalAm offices in Pacific Grove at 511 Forest Lodge Road at 6 p.m.

CalAm says low income families may qualify for a discount, that information can be found here.