California’s Regulated Water Utilities

HOW REGULATED WATER UTILITIES ARE HELPING CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES

Six million Californians are served by regulated water utilities. In 2017 alone, these utilities invested more than $645 million in community water and wastewater systems to ensure customers receive safe and reliable water services.

From investing in new treatment facilities and miles of new water pipe to addressing the state’s unique water challenges with technological advances and conservation efforts, California’s regulated water utilities are leading the way and ensuring customers have the quality water they need for generations to come.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH CALIFORNIA’S REGULATED WATER UTILITIES

California’s regulated water utilities bring water system expertise to the communities they serve. Unlike municipalities that must balance many competing priorities and programs, California’s regulated water utilities are 100% focused on providing their customers with exceptional water service. In addition to experience and expertise, these utilities bring efficiency through economies of scale and access to capital for necessary infrastructure investments. In addition, these utilities are part of the communities they serve, providing jobs, community investment and engagement.

Another benefit of having water services provided by a California water utility is that there is regulatory oversight by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to ensure adequate upkeep and investment in water systems. This protects communities and customers against the potentially catastrophic public health and environmental consequences of delayed or insufficient investment. Further, the CPUC sets rates for California’s regulated water utilities via a thorough and transparent public process that protects customers while ensuring water systems receive necessary investments.

HOW ACTIVISTS GET IT WRONG

Some opponents of California’s regulated water utilities make inaccurate claims about the state’s oversight process.

Get the facts:

The oversight process in California is transparent and encourages customers to be involved.
Rates are a reflection of water infrastructure investment – insufficient investment can have dire consequences.
Several studies, including a 2018 study in the National Academy of Sciences, found that privately-owned utilities are far less likely to have health-based drinking water quality violations than municipal utilities.