Sign up for email updates
News Archive

AWA Consolidates Rates to Undermine Protest

The consolidation is AWA’s response to several successful protests that stopped unfair rate increases within AWA’s individual water systems. Under Proposition 218, customers have the right to protest the consolidation. If a majority protests, the consolidation will not go forward. More info...

Council Objects to AWA Rate Study

On August 27, 2012, the Jackson City Council voted 5-0 to send a letter to AWA objecting to AWA’s proposed consolidated rate increase. If the council doesn’t receive what they consider a satisfactory response, then they will consider hiring an independent auditor.

The City’s main objection is that AWA is charging Jackson $19,196 annually for the cost of the Plymouth Pipeline. The City’s water does not travel through the Plymouth Pipe and AWA told the City years ago that they would not be expected to pay for the pipeline. More...

Jackson to Pay $19,000/Year for Pipeline They Don't Use

On August 14, City of Jackson leaders met with AWA to discuss AWA’s latest systemwide rate plan, which requires Jackson to pay $19,196 per year for debt service on the Plymouth pipeline. Jackson does not use the Plymouth pipeline, and were told before it was built that it would not cost them anything. More Info...

45% Water Rate Increases at AWA Could Soon Be Reality

On July 26, 2012, the Amador Water Agency Board directed staff to send out notices informing ratepayers of five water rate increases over the next 4 years, averaging 31%. See how the rate increase affects you...

Discount for Developers

Jackson residents will pay for the Upcountry Gravity Supply Line project, even though it does not benefit them.
Read More...

What You Can Do

Contact your City Council and let them know that you expect them to protect ratepayers from the AWS giveaways to developers.
More Info...

Success Stories

Read about local ratepayers who have successfully protested rate increases.
Details...

About Jackson's Water System

If you have public water in Jackson, then you buy your water from the City of Jackson. The City maintains all of the water lines that distribute Jackson’s water and is responsible for water quality monitoring, reading your meter, and sending you the monthly bills. Jackson buys the water they sell to you from Amador Water Agency (AWA).

Amador Water System (AWS) is the system within AWA that is responsible for water that goes to Jackson, Ione, Sutter Creek, Plymouth, Drytown, Amador City and Martell. This system also serves untreated water from the Amador Canal to customers between Lake Tabeaud and Sutter Hill.

AWS transports the raw water from Lake Tabeaud via the Amador Transmission Line to Sutter Hill. At Sutter Hill, some of the water is treated and stored for distribution to Jackson and other customers. Untreated water is piped from Sutter Hill to Ione and then treated for use in Ione.

Amador Water System Service Area Map

 

How Ratepayers are Affected

If either the City of Jackson or AWS do not operate efficiently, costs to the ratepayer will be excessive. Since 2004, AWS rates to Jackson have increased by 87%. The increase is mostly due to the cost of design, planning and construction of the Amador Transmission Line (ATL) that was completed in 2007.

The ATL was built to supply three times the capacity that is needed on the system today. Because the project was overbuilt, ratepayers are paying for a project that is three times larger than needed. Ratepayers would save over $1,000,000 per year if the cost of the ATL was split fairly between them and future customers. $1,000,000/year amounts to about a 20% reduction in water rates needed on the AWS.

Jackson ratepayers are also affected by special deals for selected developers. The infrastructure needed to treat and deliver water is very expensive and has been paid for by ratepayers. Ratepayers pay for the extra capacity that is built into most improvements with the expectation that new development will reimburse the ratepayers for the capacity they invested in. Unfortunately, the AWA board can (and does) sell the infrastructure for as little as half of what it is worth. Recently, the AWA Board gave a $500,000 discount to JTS Communities, Inc. (Castle Oaks in Ione) on connection fees. $500,000 amounts to over 10% of the annual cost of water on AWS.


Jackson Rates vs. Consumer Price Index