The California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) issued its decision on California Water Service’s (Cal Water) required, triennial review of its operations, expenses, rates, and needed water system improvements on December 15, 2016.

In its decision, the Commission authorizes Cal Water to invest $58.9 million in infrastructure improvements in the Bakersfield service district over the next three years.

The decision enables Cal Water to make water system improvements necessary to continue providing safe and reliable water service to its customers, according to District Manager Rudy Valles.

Among the improvements Cal Water will be able to make are:

• Replacement of 75,319 feet of aging and high-risk water main
• Conversion of 3,920 flat-rate service connections to metered service connections to comply with state law
• Building of three new wells to improve water supply.

For the typical residential customer using 17,952 gallons of water per month, the monthly water bill will increase by $1.21 in 2017, and then increase by $2.77 (9 cents per day) in 2018 and by $2.48 (8 cents per day) in 2019. New water rates go into effect January 1, 2017.

Cal Water customers will receive more details about approved water system improvements and the rate changes in their January 2017 bills.

Separately, the Commission approved a resolution authorizing Cal Water to recover drought expenses incurred from 2014-2015 through a 12-month surcharge of $0.023 per Ccf (748 gallons) on customers’ bills in the Bakersfield District.