Rates, Rules and Regs

The following Rules and Regulations were adopted by the Board of Directors of the La Cañada Irrigation District on March 16, 1926, and are routinely amended pursuant to the provisions of the California Irrigation District Act.

Under these provisions, the District is authorized to enforce, amend and revise its Rules and Regulations in order to ensure the orderly, efficient, and equitable distribution, use and conservation of the water resources of the District.

*The Rules and Regulations were last amended on May 1, 2018.

RATES

The charges for supplying water in the District are calculated from the date of installation and turn-on of a meter, or on the date of transfer of an existing account. Meters are read bi-monthly (every two months).

Water is measured in units of 100 cubic feet each and charges are calculated as per the following current rates:

2024-2028 Water Costs of Service Rate Study

Regular rate studies are critical to the healthy operation of District operations and are ideally conducted every 3-5 years. Utility systems must keep up with rising costs and be able to implement critical capital projects that are mandated or necessary for the health and safety of our customers. 

Performed regularly, water rate studies provide transparency into what the District can expect in the years ahead and ensure we have the financial resources to meet our budget, maintain our infrastructure, manage system capacity for growth, implement new technologies, address existing and new state and federal regulations, and implement our Capital Improvement Program (CIP). 

Other elements of rate studies include the development of a reserve policy that considers the different types of risks we face, including emergency repairs, future drought conditions, and increased imported water costs, and ensures revenue stability while maintaining affordability and communicating the intention of conservation.

This process was last performed by the District in 2018, culminating in the 2018-2022 5-year rate structure. At the time, the process was scheduled to be repeated in 2022 for the next 5-year period. However, in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the LCID Board of Directors paused Rate implementation a full year in 2020, and rescheduled the follow up study for 2023.

Raftelis Financial Consultants and District staff have been working diligently on a series of steps involving data evaluation and technical analyses to derive customer rates while considering customer impacts of any rate modifications. The goal of the rates study is to ensure that the rates customers pay for water services are:

• Fair, equitable, and aligned with community values and priorities
• Sufficient to ensure the continued financial viability of District operations
• Sufficient to enable critical maintenance and infrastructure investment to continue high levels of service while complying with ever more stringent regulatory requirements
• Aligned with best practices and in accordance with state law

The public is encouraged to follow the rates study process and learn more about your water services. To help you learn more about setting legal rates in California, how rates are determined, and how the rates you pay are an investment in our critical infrastructure, we have provided helpful FAQs and the video links below.

2023 LCID Rate Study Report Notice of Public Hearing FAQ’s

CURRENT TIER COMMODITY RATE SCHEDULE         EFFECTIVE FEB  1, 2023
1-14 units @ $4.06 per unit                                                  $4.35 per Unit
15-70 units @ $5.15 per unit                                                $5.52 per Unit
Over 70 units @ $5.75 per unit                                            $6.16 per Unit

Monthly service charges are calculated by meter size as per the following current rates:
CURRENT METER BASE SERVICE CHARGE / MONTHLY
3″ – $407.49
2″ – $191.19
1½” – $122.90
1″ – $65.98
5/8″-3/4″ – $31.83

BILLING
Meters are read during the last week of every second month and bills are mailed out by the last day of that month.
Payments are due by the 15th day of the following month. If payments are not received by the District office on or before the 15th of the following month, water service may be disconnected for non-payment.
In order to resume water service, the customer must pay the full amount of the outstanding bill and an additional connection charge of $100.00.

BILLING DISPUTES
Customers have the right to dispute billing charges. In order to file a dispute, the customer is required to deposit the amount charged on the bill with the Secretary of the District. Along with the deposit, the customer must also submit a written claim for a refund and explain the grounds of the dispute.
The Secretary will submit the claim to the Board of Directors for it to be presented at the next scheduled monthly meeting. The customer has the right to attend the presentation and will be notified in advance of when and where the meeting will take place.
If the customer’s dispute is sustained, the Board will order a refund to the customer.

DISCONNECTIONS
Meters can be disconnected at the written request of the customer. The District will disconnect the meter without charge and no charges for water service will be incurred while the meter is disconnected.
The customer must file the written request for disconnection with the District or the meter will remain connected and the regular charge for water will be incurred whether or not the premises are occupied.
When a meter has been disconnected at the request of the customer, it can be reconnected at the customer’s request for a charge of $10.00.

TRANSFER OF SERVICE
Water service can be transferred to a new customer for a charge of $10.00. The charge must be paid prior to the new customer taking possession of the water service.

METER INSTALLATIONS
For a meter installation that does not require the extension, replacement or enlargement of an existing main, the District requires the customer to make a deposit for the installation and connection costs:

$ 2500.00 for each 5/8” meter.

$ 3000.00 for each 1” meter.

*Meters in excess of “1” will not be installed without the consent of the District Board of Directors. Should the consent be given, the Board will also determine the deposit amount required for the meter installation/connection.

Deposits must be paid to the District prior to the installation. The District will bill the customer for the costs of labor and materials required to perform the installation, plus 30%.

An additional Development Fee will also be charged as follows:

$ 1500.00 for each 5/8” to 1” meter.

$ 3000.00 for each 2” and over meter.

If the total cost of the installation exceeds the amount of the deposit, the customer will pay the District the difference. Or, if the total cost of the installation is less than the amount of the deposit, the District will refund or credit the customer for the remaining amount of the deposit.

All meters are and will remain the property of the District. The location of the meters will also be fixed and determined by the District.

CONSTRUCTION METERS

The District will charge a minimum of $100.00 for the connection of a construction meter.

Water service supplied through a construction meter will be charged according to the regular water rates as per the schedules presented in the section: RATES.

MAINS

It is at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the District to determine whether replacements, extensions, or enlargements of existing mains are required to furnish adequate water service.

A customer requesting such services must allow the District to determine whether or not the service will be performed, as well as the size, location and any other specifications related to the service. All service work must be performed by the District or under its direct supervision.

The District will prepare an estimate of the cost of the labor and materials required to complete the service, plus an additional 30%. The customer must pay the District a deposit in the amount of the total estimated costs prior to the commencement of work.

Upon completion of the job, the District will provide the customer with the final cost amount. If the bill exceeds the amount of the deposit, the customer will pay the District the remaining amount of the bill. Or, if the bill is less than the amount of the deposit, the District will refund or credit the customer the remaining amount of the deposit.

All mains are and will remain the property of the District.

In the event, a replacement, extension or enlargement to the main allows water to become available to a potential customer other than the paying customer, the water service will not be provided to the said potential customer until he/she pays the District a proportionate share determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will use its reasonable and fair discretion to determine the proportionate amount of payment.

All sums paid to the District by the potential customer within five years after the completion of such installation will be refunded to the customer paying for the installation. All sums collected thereafter will be retained by the District.

ASSESSMENTS

All property within the boundaries of the District is subject to an annual assessment. The amount of any such assessment is based on the land valuation for each taxable parcel within the District, as determined by the Los Angeles County Assessor.

The annual rate of the assessment is determined by the Board of Directors each year during the month of August. Any unpaid charges for water or service may also be added to the assessment.

All outstanding payments stipulated in assessments become a lien against the property until paid.

USE OF WATER OUTSIDE DISTRICT

Water served to any customer within the District shall not be piped to or used outside of the boundaries of the District.

WATER PRESSURE

It is the duty of every customer to determine whether or not their water system requires a pressure reducer and if so, it is also the customer’s responsibility to have one installed.

Customers can contact the District to request more information and the water pressure at any point in the District boundaries.

The District is not responsible for any damages incurred by high water pressure.

EMERGENCY RULES AND REGULATIONS

In the event of an emergency, the Superintendent of the District is authorized to make and enforce additional rules and regulations required under any such circumstances. However, all Emergency Rules and Regulations must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors before they can be enforced.

AMENDMENT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS

All-District Rules and Regulations shall be enforced and applied by employees of the District. All Rules and Regulations are subject to amendment by the Board of Directors at regular monthly meetings and/or any meetings specifically called for that purpose.

RETURNED CHECKS

All returned checks are subject to a $50.00 charge. Customers are then required to pay the full bill amount plus the returned check fee in a cash payment. Cash payments can be made at the District Office during regular business hours:

1443 Foothill Boulevard
La Cañada Flintridge, California 91011
(818) 790-6749

Hours: 8:30 to 5:00 Monday through Friday

FIRE FLOW FORM

Existing and potential customers can submit a Los Angeles County Fire Department form to obtain fire flow availability on hydrants located within the District. The charge to complete the form is $450.00 for each hydrant.