Rates and Fees
Rates and Fees
SCV Water has a simple and straightforward mission: To provide responsible water stewardship that ensures the Santa Clarita Valley has reliable supplies of high-quality water at a reasonable cost.
As part of that mission, the Agency regularly evaluates the cost of providing service, to confirm that expenses are balanced with revenue so that we can adequately address system operations, maintenance and updates, meet government regulations and maintain financial stability.
Water Rate Cases
Rate Case FY 2021/22 - FY 2025/26
The rates and fees here were adopted by the SCV Water Board of Directors on June 15, 2021, and will be in effect through June 30, 2025.
July 1, 2024, starts the fourth year of the current rate case. Fixed and variable charges are increasing, while legacy debt remains the same.
Rate Case FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30
The rates and fees here were adopted by the SCV Water Board of Directors on April 1, 2025, and will be in effect July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
July 1, 2025, will start the first year of the new five-year rate case. Fixed and variable charges are increasing, while legacy debt remains the same.
Definitions
- Variable (Water Use) Charge
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Expenses such as purchased water, treatment, pumping and other costs attributable directly to the amount of water used.
- Fixed Charge
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Non-fluctuating costs such as capital projects, transmission, distribution, meters and service.
- Legacy Debt
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This monthly fixed charge recovers the debt service costs for debt owed by the legacy divisions prior to the formation of SCV Water. It ensures that infrastructure costs incurred for the benefit of each pre-merger service area are paid for by those service areas.
- Recycled Water
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Charges only apply to those limited accounts where it has been provided.
- Fire Service Charges
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A standby or readiness charge, charged only to private fire service customers.
Water Rate Case FY 2021/22 - FY 2025/26
Potable and Recycled Water Charges
- Variable (Water Use) Charge
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Note: Water Use Charge is per unit of water used (ccf) (1 ccf = 748 gallons)
Class Effective 7/1/21 Effective 7/1/22 Effective 7/1/23 Effective 7/1/24 Effective 7/1/25 Potable $2.09 $2.22 $2.37 $2.52 $2.68 Recycled $1.67 $1.78 $1.90 $2.02 $2.14 - Monthly Fixed Charges
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(Potable and Recycled)
Meter Size Effective 7/1/21 Effective 7/1/22 Effective 7/1/23 Effective 7/1/24 Effective 7/1/25 5/8-in $13.64 $14.52 $15.47 $16.47 $17.54 3/4-in $18.38 $19.58 $20.85 $22.21 $23.65 1-in $27.87 $29.69 $31.62 $33.67 $35.86 1 1/2-in $51.60 $54.96 $58.63 $62.33 $66.39 2-in $80.08 $85.28 $90.83 $96.73 $103.02 2 1/2-in $94.32 $100.45 $106.97 $113.93 $121.33 3-in $146.52 $156.04 $166.18 $176.99 $188.49 4-in $241.43 $257.13 $273.84 $291.64 $310.60 6-in $478.72 $509.84 $542.98 $578.27 $615.86 8-in $763.47 $813.09 $865.94 $922.23 $982.17 10-in $1,095.67 $1,166.89 $1,242.74 $1,323.51 $1,409.54 12-in $2,044.82 $2,177.74 $2,319.29 $2,470.04 $2,630.59 - Monthly Legacy Debt Fixed Charge
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Meter Size Santa Clarita Division Effective 7/1/21* Valencia Division Effective 7/1/21* 5/8-in $6.80 $4.34 3/4-in $10.20 $6.50 1-in $17.01 $10.84 1 1/2-in $34.02 $21.68 2-in $54.42 $34.69 2 1/2-in $64.63 $41.20 3-in $102.05 $65.05 4-in $170.08 $108.41 6-in $340.15 $216.83 8-in $544.24 $346.92 10-in $782.35 $498.70 12-in $1,462.65 $932.36 *The Legacy Debt charge is effective on July 1, 2021, and will remain unchanged through the rate period (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2026). It is billed monthly.
- Miscellaneous Fees
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Miscellaneous Fees
Fee Description Amount Returned Payment Fee $35.00 Late Fee - Overdue Notice generated $10.00 Disconnection Fee $30.00 Out of Agency Fee To Be Determined AMI/AMR Opt-Out Set-up Fee $75.00 AMI/AMR Opt-Out Monthly Fee $30.00 AMI/AMR Opt-Out Re-Read Fee $30.00 Meter Test Fee* $112.00 Pulled Meter Fee Actual cost to Agency Turn off at Main Actual cost to Agency Property Damage Actual cost to Agency
plus 10% overheadUnread Meter Fee $200.00 Water Waste Penalty Fee $50.00/day - Additional $50.00/day
for each subsequent violation
up to a max of $500.00Cross-Connection / Backflow Non-Compliance Fee $200 per month * No charge if the meter is inaccurate
Restoration or Reconnection of Service
Restoration Time Description Amount Standard Next Day Restoration (during normal Agency business hours) $30.00 Express Restoration (after normal Agency business hours) $70.00 Agency observed holidays $90.00 Fire Flow Test Charge
Fire Flow Test - All Locations Amount Hydraulic Model $150.00 Field Test $500.00 Penalties for Unauthorized Use of the Agency's Potable or Recycled Water System
Description of Unauthorized Use Penalty Charge Broken Meter stop/shut-off valve $300.00 Cutting Agency lock or bypassing meter $50.00 Unauthorized installation/connection/use penalty $1,000 each offense Unauthorized tampering of the Agency systems $1,000 each offense Unauthorized use of a Private Fire Protection Service COnnection $1,000 each offense Damage to meter, pipeline, tank, well site, or other components of the potable or recycled water service infrastructure $525.00 or actual cost of repair, whichever is greater Potable or Recycled Water Service Application Fee and Deposit
Account Description Deposit Amount Fee $20.00 Deposit* 3-months average use * Potable Water or Recycled Service Application Fee and Deposit (when required).
Dedicated Fire Service Charges
- Variable (Water Use) Charge
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Note: Water Use Charge is per unit of water used (ccf) (1 ccf = 748 gallons)
Class Effective 7/1/21 Effective 7/1/22 Effective 7/1/23 Effective 7/1/24 Effective 7/1/25 Potable $2.09 $2.22 $2.37 $2.52 $2.68 - Monthly Fixed Charges
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Meter Size Effective 7/1/21 Effective 7/1/22 Effective 7/1/23 Effective 7/1/24 Effective 7/1/25 3/4-in $5.71 $6.08 $6.47 $6.90 $7.34 1-in $6.29 $6.70 $7.14 $7.60 $8.10 1 1/2-in $7.76 $8.26 $8.80 $9.37 $9.98 2-in $9.51 $10.13 $10.79 $11.49 $12.24 2 1/2-in $10.39 $11.07 $11.79 $12.55 $13.37 3-in $13.61 $14.50 $15.44 $16.44 $17.51 4-in $19.47 $20.73 $22.08 $23.52 $25.04 6-in $34.10 $36.32 $38.68 $41.20 $43.87 8-in $51.67 $55.03 $58.60 $62.41 $66.47 10-in $72.16 $76.85 $81.85 $87.17 $92.83 12-in $130.71 $139.21 $148.25 $157.89 $168.15 14-in $192.19 $204.68 $217.98 $232.15 $247.24 16-in $272.98 $290.73 $309.63 $329.75 $351.18 18-in $433.70 $461.89 $491.91 $523.89 $557.94 20-in $46.41 $581.92 $619.75 $660.03 $702.93
Read the Rates Study used to set the 2022-2026 rates.
Water Rate Case FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30
Potable and Recycled Water Charges
- Variable Charges
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WATER USE CHARGES
NOTE: Water Use Charge is per unit of water used (ccf). 1 ccf = 748 gallons
Class
($ per ccf)Effective 7/1/2025 Effective 7/1/2026 Effective 7/1/2027 Effective 7/1/2028 Effective 7/1/2029 Potable $2.77 $3.03 $3.29 $3.58 $3.89 Recycled* $2.21 $2.41 $2.62 $2.84 $3.08 *Recycled Water Use Charge. Recycled water is billed based on the amount of recycled water used and only charged to customers that have a recycled water meter.
- Fixed Charges
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FIXED CHARGES
(For potable and recycled)
Meter Size Effective 7/1/2025 Effective 7/1/2026 Effective 7/1/2027 Effective 7/1/2028 Effective 7/1/2029 5/8-in $17.10 $18.83 $20.65 $22.64 $24.82 3/4-in $23.60 $25.99 $28.50 $31.25 $34.26 1-in $36.60 $40.31 $44.19 $48.46 $53.13 1 1/2-in $59.09 $76.10 $83.44 $91.48 $100.30 2-in $108.08 $119.05 $130.53 $143.11 $156.91 2 1/2-in $127.58 $140.52 $154.07 $168.93 $185.22 3-in $199.07 $219.26 $240.41 $263.59 $289.00 4-in $329.04 $362.43 $397.37 $435.69 $477.70 6-in $653.99 $720.34 $789.79 $865.95 $949.45 8-in $1,043.92 $1,149.83 $1,260.70 $1,382.26 $1,515.54 10-in $1,498.84 $1,650.90 $1,810.09 $1,984.62 $2,175.99 12-in $2,798.61 $3,082.54 $3,379.77 $3,705.66 $3,062.97 - Legacy Debt Charges
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The legacy debt charge is billed separately as a monthly fixed charge to cover debt incurred by the Santa Clarita and Valencia Divisions prior to the formation of SCV Water, as outlined in Senate Bill 634. This ensures that infrastructure costs incurred for the benefit of each pre-merger service area are paid by those respective areas.
Meter Size Santa Clarita Water Division Effective 7/1/2025* Valencia Water Division Effective 7/1/2025* 5/8-in $5.26 $4.88 3/4-in $7.89 $7.32 1-in $13.14 $12.20 1 1/2-in $26.29 $24.40 2-in $42.06 $39.03 2 1/2-in $49.95 $46.35 3-in $78.87 $73.19 4-in $131.44 $121.98 6-in $262.88 $243.97 8-in $420.61 $390.34 10-in $604.63 $561.12 12-in $1,130.40 $1,049.05 *The Legacy Debt Charge will remain unchanged through the rate period (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2030.
- Private Fire Service Charges
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Private Fire Service Charges are imposed on properties that have a separate private fire line. These costs are recovered through a monthly service charge, charged only to private fire service customers based on the size of the fire service.
Meter Size Effective 7/1/25 Effective 7/1/26 Effective 7/1/27 Effective 7/1/28 Effective 7/1/29 3/4-in $4.27 $4.70 $5.16 $5.65 $6.20 1-in $4.27 $4.70 $5.16 $5.65 $6.20 1 1/2-in $4.59 $5.05 $5.54 $6.07 $6.66 2-in $5.13 $5.65 $6.19 $6.79 $7.45 2 1/2-in $7.08 $7.80 $8.55 $9.38 $10.28 3-in $10.45 $11.51 $12.62 $13.84 $15.18 4-in $22.55 $24.84 $27.23 $29.86 $32.74 6-in $43.41 $47.82 $52.43 $47.48 $63.03 8-in $74.79 $82.38 $90.33 $99.04 $108.59 10-in $118.29 $130.29 $142.85 $156.63 $171.73 12-in $163.96 $180.60 $198.01 $217.10 $238.04 14-in $227.91 $251.03 $275.23 $301.77 $330.87 16-in $317.43 $349.63 #383.34 $420.31 $460.83 18-in $442.76 $478.68 $534.70 $586.26 $642.78 20-in $618.22 $680.94 $746.94 $818.58 $897.52 - Pass-Through Provision
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As part of the rate-setting process, SCV Water projects the revenue needed in future years based on assumptions and projections on cost increases including, among other things, inflation and construction. SCV Water conservatively projects such cost increases based on historical data and trends. The proposed annual increases for the water rates and charges are based on the following expense escalation factors:
Expense Escalation Factors FY 2025/26 FY 2026/27 FY 2027/28 FY 2028/29 FY 2029/30 Overall Inflation Rate 3.80% 3.80% 3.10% 3.10% 2.69% Construction Inflation Rate 6.10% 6.10% 6.10% 6.10% 6.10% Expense Escalation Factors
It is possible that, due to factors outside of SCV Water’s control, overall inflation or construction inflation may increase in amounts that exceed those set forth in the table above. Pursuant to Government Code section 53756, SCV Water is proposing to pass-through such unforeseen inflationary increases directly to customers in future years as follows:
Should the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, measured from February to February exceed the “Overall Inflation Rate” listed in the table above for the applicable year, SCV Water proposes to pass through to its customers the difference by adjusting the Overall Inflation Rate upwards to match CPI; and Should the annual change in the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index (“CCI”) measured from February to February, exceed the “Construction Inflation Rate” listed in the table above for the applicable year, SCV Water proposes to pass through to its customers the difference by adjusting the Construction Inflation Rate to match CCI; andCollectively, the proposed adjustments described above are referred to as the “Pass-Throughs.” SCV Water may implement the Pass-Throughs at any time commencing July 1, 2025, through and including June 30, 2030, provided that should SCV Water determine it is necessary to implement a Pass-Through, SCV Water will mail notice of such adjustment to each impacted property owner and customer of record at least 30 days prior to implementation. The Pass-Throughs may be applied to the Fixed Charges, the Water Use Charges, or the Private Fire Service Charges as applicable, provided that the impacted proposed water rates and charges shall not increase by more than 10% in any fiscal year as a result of implementation of the Pass-Throughs, and in no event shall the Pass-Throughs cause the proposed rates to exceed the cost of providing water service.
- Miscellaneous Fees
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Miscellaneous Fees
Fee Description Amount Returned Payment Fee $35.00 Late Fee - Overdue Notice generated $10.00 Disconnection Fee $30.00 Out of Agency Fee To Be Determined AMI/AMR Opt-Out Set-up Fee $75.00 AMI/AMR Opt-Out Monthly Fee $30.00 AMI/AMR Opt-Out Re-Read Fee $30.00 Meter Test Fee* $112.00 Pulled Meter Fee Actual cost to Agency Turn off at Main Actual cost to Agency Property Damage Actual cost to Agency
plus 10% overheadUnread Meter Fee $200.00 Water Waste Penalty Fee $50.00/day - Additional $50.00/day
for each subsequent violation
up to a max of $500.00Cross-Connection / Backflow Non-Compliance Fee $200 per month * No charge if the meter is inaccurate
Restoration or Reconnection of Service
Restoration Time Description Amount Standard Next Day Restoration (during normal Agency business hours) $30.00 Express Restoration (after normal Agency business hours) $70.00 Agency observed holidays $90.00 Fire Flow Test Charge
Fire Flow Test - All Locations Amount Hydraulic Model $150.00 Field Test $500.00 Penalties for Unauthorized Use of the Agency's Potable or Recycled Water System
Description of Unauthorized Use Penalty Charge Broken Meter stop/shut-off valve $300.00 Cutting Agency lock or bypassing meter $50.00 Unauthorized installation/connection/use penalty $1,000 each offense Unauthorized tampering of the Agency systems $1,000 each offense Unauthorized use of a Private Fire Protection Service Connection $1,000 each offense Damage to meter, pipeline, tank, well site, or other components of the potable or recycled water service infrastructure $525.00 or actual cost of repair, whichever is greater Potable or Recycled Water Service Application Fee and Deposit
Account Description Deposit Amount Fee $20.00 Deposit* 3-months average use * Potable Water or Recycled Service Application Fee and Deposit (when required).
Water Rates Study FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30
Visit the Rate Planning page for additional information on the approved FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30 water rates.
Read the Rates Study used to set the FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30 water rates.
- Ratepayer Advocate Report (RDN) - November 25, 2024
- 2025 Retail Water Rate Cost Analysis and Rate Design Study
Public Hearing - April 1, 2025
- SCV Water Board of Directors Public Hearing Meeting Materials and Recording - April 1, 2025
- SCV Water Adoption of Water Rates - Resolution No. SCV-469: Establishing Retail Water Rates for Fiscal Year 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 and Making an Exemption Determination Under the California Environmental Quality Act
Resources
Use the Rates Calculator to view the impact on your rates for each year.
Visit the Rate Planning page for additional information on the approved FY 2025/26 - FY 2029/30 water rates.