What to know about the incoming changes to your San Diego water bill

City of San Diego water customers will see changes to their bills starting in January, when a new billing structure for single-family homes takes effect alongside a previously approved water rate increase. The changes stem from a lawsuit filed in 2015 challenging the city’s tiered water pricing system.

Under the new structure, customers who use less water are expected to see their monthly bills increase, while those who use more water could pay less. The city estimates the average monthly bill for a low-use customer in a single-family home will increase by about $6, while the bill for a high-use customer is expected to decrease by $20.

The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 on Tuesday to approve the modified water rate structure. City leaders said they disagreed with the court’s decision but were legally required to comply.

The city does not agree with the court's decision in the [Daniel Patz et al. v. City of San Diego] case. However, we are legally required to have a structure the court deems valid,” a staff member, who presented on this agenda item to council members, said.

The lawsuit, filed in 2015, challenged San Diego’s tiered water payment system, which charges single-family homeowners different rates based on how much water they use.