Current Budget & Rate information
Current Water Rates
Explanation of water rates and charges.
Current Wastewater Rates
Explanation of wastewater rates and charges.
Current Rates and Fees Schedules
Complete list of water, wastewater, administrative and recreation rates, charges and fees.
Investing in the Future
EBMUD is here for you – in each drink from a faucet, each shower and handwash, and every drop sent down the drain. We provide clean water to every home, business, hospital and school in our service area. For a century, we’ve supported the East Bay’s health and economy while protecting the environment.
On June 13, 2023, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board of Directors adopted new service rates and charges to help fund critical investments in essential water and wastewater infrastructure. The rates, which will apply to customer bills over the next two fiscal years, will support a $2.7 billion, two-year budget and the start of a $2.8 billion, five-year capital improvement program to build resilient infrastructure of the future. The Board voted 6-1 to adopt the new rates and approved the budget unanimously with a 7-0 vote.
EBMUD’s rate increases will result in average single-family customer water bill increases of 19 cents a day when new rates take effect July 1 and another 21 cents a day beginning July 1, 2024. Rates for wastewater customers, who largely reside west of the Berkeley-Oakland hills, will rise 7 cents a day in fiscal year 2024 and another 7 cents a day in fiscal year 2025. These represent annual increases of approximately 8.5 percent in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. Actual changes in a customer’s bill will depend on how much water is used each billing period.
EBMUD is a not-for-profit public utility, and customers’ rate dollars directly fund operations and capital improvements. Any additional revenue is reinvested in the system.
“This decision reaffirms EBMUD’s commitment to our community’s essential water and wastewater infrastructure,” said EBMUD Board President Andy Katz. “As EBMUD commemorates 100 years of high-quality water service to the East Bay, we recognize that we must build on the investments of the past while utilizing new technologies to ensure our region’s people, environment and economy can thrive for another century and beyond.”
As EBMUD begins its second century of service, it faces numerous challenges. Aging infrastructure needs continued maintenance and replacement. Climate change is driving bigger swings between severe droughts and intense storms. Water and wastewater systems must deal with emerging contaminants. And wastewater treatment must reduce stormwater infiltration and limit the discharge of nutrients to better protect the San Francisco Bay.
To meet these challenges, EBMUD is entering the most capital-intensive period in its history. Today’s Board actions, recommended by General Manager Clifford Chan, will help fund $2.8 billion in capital improvements over the next five years, including:
- Substantial upgrades of water treatment plants
- Replacement and rehabilitation of aging pipelines and sewage collection systems
- Rebuilding neighborhood reservoirs
- Modernizing wastewater facilities
As EBMUD takes on these important infrastructure investments, the utility, like many others, is also confronting inflationary cost pressures on equipment, chemicals, energy and labor.
“These new rates are necessary for EBMUD to build and maintain resilient and reliable water and wastewater systems,” Chan said.
“EBMUD’s investments are vital for public health and essential to support the community and a strong local economy as well as to protect the environment.”
EBMUD is proud that the East Bay’s high-quality drinking water remains a great value at a little over a penny a gallon. For those who have trouble paying their water bills, the utility is making its industry leading Customer Assistance Program easier to access. Information is available at ebmud.com/assistance.
The June 13, 2023, Board action was the final step in a months-long approval process that included Board workshops, public notices, dissemination of printed and online resources, community presentations, media outreach, and a public hearing.
EBMUD is dedicated to serving East Bay customers and investing in our community as we have for a century. Thank you for investing your trust in us.
Budget and Rate Documents for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025
Workshops and meetings*
All Regular Board meetings are open to the general public to attend in-person at 375 Eleventh Street, Oakland, CA 94607 or via Zoom. See ebmud.com/boardmeetings.
- Infrastructure Workshop – November 26, 2024 Staff presentation and report
- Budget and Rates Workshop #1 – January 28, 2025 Staff presentation and report
- Budget and Rates Workshop #2 – March 25, 2025
- Regular Board Meeting – Proposed Proposition 218 Rates – March 25, 2025
- Regular Board Meeting – Proposed Non-Proposition 218 Rates – May 13, 2025
- Public Hearing at Regular Board Meeting– June 10, 2025 at 1:15 p.m.
- Proposed Revisions to the Water and Wastewater System Schedules of Rates and Charges, Capacity Charges, and Other Fees, and Regulations for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027
*Video recordings of public workshops/meetings may not be posted immediately. For access to video recordings not yet posted, please submit a public records request.
Water and Wastewater Rates Cost of Service and Capacity Fee Studies
Water and wastewater rates are established to recover costs included in the District’s operating and capital budgets, meet the District’s policy goals and comply with applicable law, including Proposition 218 and the Municipal Utility District Act (“MUD” Act). Rates should also enhance the District’s ability to provide safe, reliable, and sufficient water supply and wastewater treatment services to its customers over the long term.
The Water System Capacity Charges (SCC) and the Wastewater Capacity Fee (WCF) recover the proportional shares of the costs of water and wastewater facilities for new customers joining the water or wastewater systems or for customers requiring increased water demand or wastewater treatment. The SCC and WCF comply with applicable law, including Proposition 26, California Government Code Section 66013, and the MUD Act.
To ensure that the water and wastewater rates and capacity fees are established in accordance with municipal water and wastewater rate setting principles and in compliance with applicable law, the District hires independent financial consultants to conduct periodic water and wastewater rate cost of service studies and capacity fee studies. The results of these rate costs of service and capacity fee studies are typically updated annually.
Water and Wastewater Rates Cost of Service Studies
Current Rate Cost of Service Studies:
| Document | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Water Rates Cost of Service Study | <1 MB | |
| Wastewater Rates Cost of Service and Capacity Fee Study | 1.2 MB |
Water and Wastewater Capacity Fee Studies and Reports
Current Capacity Fee Studies and Reports:
| Document | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Water System Capacity Fee Study | <1 MB | |
| Wastewater Rates Cost of Service and Capacity Fee Study | 1.2 MB | |
| Water and Wastewater System Capacity Charge Report | <1 MB |
Annual and Biennial Rates
Current Annual and Biennial Rate Reports:
Services to help
EBMUD recognizes the Bay Area’s high cost of living and offers one of the most generous customer assistance programs in the state. Our Customer Assistance Program provides discounts to qualified customers based on income level. For information, visit: ebmud.com/assistance.