Proposed Water & Sewer Rates for Fiscal Years Ending 2027-28

The SFPUC is committed to a transparent, public rate setting process guided by the principles set in Ratepayer Assurance Policy and as required by state law.

The SFPUC is required to undertake independent rate studies at least every five years to ensure the rates customers are charged reflect the true cost of providing our services. The last rate study for water and sewer rates was completed in 2023.

Independent rate analysts recommended water and sewer rate increases for the fiscal years ending 2027-2028 to address operating and capital improvement needs. The proposed new rates schedule represents a combined monthly bill increase for the average San Francisco residential household of $21 and $23 in fiscal years 2027 and 2028 respectively. Those increases amount to approximately 12.6% and 12/5% per year. If approved, the rate increases would become effective July 1, 2026.

The rate study findings provided the basis for our rate proposal, which goes through an extensive review and public approval process. 

Rate Fairness Board

Since 2002, the Rate Fairness Board has been reviewing and advising us on rate matters. This group consists of appointed members including local residents and business owners. These meeting are held throughout the year in-person and remotely by teleconference.  For instructions on how to join the Rate Fairness Board meeting remotely and make comments, please refer to the agenda for each meeting.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission consists of five members, nominated by the Mayor and approved by the Board of Supervisors. Their responsibility is to provide operational oversight in areas such as rates and charges for services, approval of contracts, and organizational policy.

Our Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, unless otherwise noted on the agenda schedule. For instructions on how to join the SFPUC Commission meeting remotely and make comment, please refer to the agenda for each meeting.

Public Hearing, Protest and Projection Procedures

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the regular San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (Commission) meeting that begins at 1:30 pm, the Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed changes to the water and sewer rates in San Francisco City Hall, Room 400, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, California, 94102.  

Public Comment and Participation: The SFPUC Commission will hear oral comments and consider all Protests and Objections submitted under the Protest and Separate Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Procedures at the hearing. Additionally, the Commission will hear staff responses to Objections at the public hearing. Oral comments at the public hearing will be recorded in the public record of the hearing but will not be counted as a Protest or Objection. Only written Protests and written Objections will be counted as formal Protests under Proposition 218. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Commission will consider adopting the proposed water and sewer rates described in the Proposition 218 Notice. The Commission may impose the proposed rates if timely written Protests are not submitted by property owners or customers of record on behalf of a majority of the parcels affected by the proposed changes.  

Protest Procedure (Cal. Const., art. XIII D, § 6(a)): The owner of record of any parcel upon which the water and sewer rates are proposed for imposition, or a customer of record who is not the property owner (e.g., a tenant), may submit a written Protest to one or more proposed rate changes (“Protest”); however, only one Protest will be counted per identified parcel. Any written Protest must: (1) state that the identified property owner or customer is in opposition to the proposed rate increase; (2) provide the location of the identified parcel (by assessor’s parcel number, street address, or customer account); and (3) include the name and signature of the person submitting the Protest. If a party is protesting one or more proposed rate changes, the party should identify the rate or rates that are being protested. Although oral comments at the public hearing will not qualify as a formal Protest unless accompanied by a written Protest, the SFPUC welcomes input from the community during the public hearing on the proposed water and sewer rates. All Protests must be received by the SFPUC prior to the conclusion of the public comment portion of the public hearing on April 28, 2026.  

Separate Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Procedure    

(Gov. Code § 53759.1): The owner of record of any parcel upon which the water and sewer rates are proposed for imposition, or a customer of record who is not the property owner (e.g., a tenant), may submit a written Objection (“Objection”) to the Commission.    

Any Objection must: (1) state the specific rate change for which the Objection is being submitted; (2) provide the location of the identified parcel (by customer account number, street address, or assessor’s parcel number); (3) include the name of the party submitting the Objection; (4) indicate the submission is an Objection; and (5) specify the grounds for alleging the SFPUC’s noncompliance with Proposition 218. Please note the specified grounds must be sufficiently detailed to allow the SFPUC to determine whether alterations to the proposed rate change may be needed. By way of example, an Objection stating a proposed rate change violates Proposition 218, without providing detail explaining the basis for this claim, is insufficient. Objections must be received by mail or hand delivered no later than 4:30 pm Pacific Time on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Failure to timely submit an Objection will bar any right to challenge the fee or charge through a legal proceeding. All timely Objections received will also be counted as a Protest. Any Objection received later than 4:30 pm on Thursday, April 2, 2026 and before the close of the public comment portion of the public hearing will only be considered and counted as a Protest and not an Objection.  

Objections and Protests can be mailed to:
SFPUC
ATTN: Director of Commission Affairs
525 Golden Gate Avenue, 13th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102

Objections can also be hand-delivered to the Customer Service Bureau at 525 Golden Gate Avenue, 1st Floor, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, excluding legal holidays. Hand-delivered Objections must be deposited in the box labeled “2026 Water and Sewer Rate Written Objections Only.”

Protests can also be hand-delivered to the Director of Commission Affairs during the public comments section of the rate hearing.  

Objections or Protests submitted by email, fax, or other means not mentioned above will not be accepted as an Objection or a Protest. At its April 28, 2026 public hearing, the SFPUC Commission will consider all timely submitted Objections and SFPUC responses.

The SFPUC water and sewer bills contain two core elements: fixed charges that cover shared costs relevant to all customers and usage charges based on the amount of water used or wastewater produced. Learn how to Read Your Current Bill.  

We are required to periodically undertake rates studies to ensure the rates customers are charged reflect the true cost of providing our services. Adjustments are then proposed so that all customers are treated fairly, uninterrupted services are provided, strict environmental regulations can be met, and the financial stability of our assets and systems are maintained long-term.

To continue delivering the services that San Franciscans depend on, the SFPUC proposes introducing a new water and sewer rate structure for fiscal years ending 2027-2028. The proposed new rates represent a combined monthly bill increase for the average San Francisco residential household of $21 and $23 in fiscal years 2027 and 2028 respectively. Those increases amount to approximately 12.6% and 12.5% per year.  If approved, the rate increases would become effective July 1, 2026.

The average customer’s water and sewer bill in San Francisco would still be less than current bills in Los Angeles and Santa Clara and just slightly more than Oakland and San Jose.

The SFPUC periodically reviews water and sewer rates to ensure that what we are charging reflects the true cost of operating, maintaining and upgrading our systems We provide water, sewer and clean power services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The cost of our operations and maintenance are100% funded by your water, power and wastewater rates. We do not receive money from taxes.  

We are proposing an increase to water and sewer rates for the fiscal years ending in 2027-2028. Many parts of the water system are about 100 years old. The oldest parts of the sewer system date back to the Gold Rush. We’re replacing aging water and sewer mains to prevent breaks, ensure reliable service, improve seismic safety, and protect our environment. Taking action now to improve these systems will save money in the long run. The longer we wait to make needed upgrades, the more they will cost.

Please join us at one of our webinars to learn more about the proposed rates and what it means for you. All are welcome. 

• Details coming soon.

Cantonese, Filipino, and Spanish interpretation will be available. Please select your preferred language during registration.  

We are committed to keeping our rates affordable and providing ways for all of our customers to lower their bills. Explore our programs that help you save water and money

Review the Frequently Asked Questions page (English| Español | 中文 | Filipino) and learn more about the proposed rates. 

• What is Prop 218 (English | Español | 中文 | Filipino | Tiếng Việt | عربي | Pусский | Samoano)
• Proposition 218 (English | Español | 中文 | Filipino | Tiếng Việt | عربي | Pусский | Samoano)
• How to Read Your Current Bill
• SFPUC Water and Wastewater Rates Study (05/15/23)
• Frequently Asked Questions page (English| Español | 中文 | Filipino)
• Join a virtual 2026 Rates webinar meeting:
  •  Details coming soon.
  • Cantonese, Filipino, and Spanish interpretation will be available. Please select your preferred language during registration.  

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