2024 Infrastructure Improvement Plan for Los Altos
In Los Altos, Cal Water is continuously modernizing and upgrading our water system to provide safe, clean, reliable drinking water for our customers.
Learn more about how Cal Water’s Infrastructure Improvement Plan impacts Los Altos customers.
IIP and You
How Rates Are Set
Understanding the Infrastructure Improvement Plan and rate review process
Cal Water’s rates are set by an independent, third party, state agency—the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)—with input from the public. We are required to file a new application every three years, so that rates reflect the actual cost of operating, maintaining, and upgrading our water system to provide safe, clean, reliable drinking water to our customers.
Any changes to customer bills as a result of this Infrastructure Improvement Plan would not occur until January 2026 at the earliest.
Learn more about how rates are set.
These figures represent bill effect in 2026 for a residential customer with a 5/8″ x 3/4″ meter.
Median Water Use
Customers using the median amount of water per month of 6,732 gallons, or 9 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 13 cents per day.
CAP Enrollees
Customers enrolled in our Customer Assistance Program, and using the median amount of water per month of 6,732 gallons, or 9 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 5 cents per day..
Fixing Small Problems
Customers using 18,700 gallons, or 25 Ccf, of water per month would see a bill increase of $1.08 per day.
Customers using the median amount of water per month of 6,732 gallons, or 9 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 13 cents per day.
Customers enrolled in our Customer Assistance Program, and using the median amount of water per month of 6,732 gallons, or 9 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 5 cents per day.
Customers using 18,700 gallons, or 25 Ccf, of water per month would see a bill increase of $1.08 per day.
IIP Planning
Explore the Facts About Los Altos’ Water System
Investing in Los Altos
Where Each Dollar Goes
Future Upgrades
2024 Infrastructure Improvement Plan Priority Areas
Our highest priority is to provide safe, clean, reliable water to our customers. This requires a proactive commitment to infrastructure investment and water quality treatment and testing. These rate adjustments for 2026-2028 will fund critical water infrastructure projects, such as new pipes, treatment facilities, pumps, and fire hydrants, plus improve water supply and storage.
More details about our infrastructure improvement priorities can be found below.
Focus on Water Quality
We focus relentlessly on water quality. Our water quality experts conduct more than 500,000 water quality tests per year for more than 300 contaminants in our state-certified, state-of-the-art laboratory. On average, that’s more than 1,000 tests per day.
Making Communities Safer
From improving wildfire protection and emergency preparedness to proactively addressing the impacts of climate change, our ongoing maintenance and upgrades help make our communities safer.
Fixing Small Problems
Our ongoing upgrades and maintenance help prevent small, manageable problems from becoming bigger and more expensive to fix. Even with our strong record of system upgrades, delivery of safe, clean tap water, and commitment to exceptional customer service, our customers pay about a penny per gallon.
We focus relentlessly on water quality. Our water quality experts conduct more than 500,000 water quality tests per year for more than 300 contaminants in our state-certified, state-of-the-art laboratory. On average, that’s more than 1,000 tests per day.
From improving wildfire protection and emergency preparedness to proactively addressing the impacts of climate change, our ongoing maintenance and upgrades help make our communities safer.
Our ongoing upgrades and maintenance help prevent small, manageable problems from becoming bigger and more expensive to fix. Even with our strong record of system upgrades, delivery of safe, clean tap water, and commitment to exceptional customer service, our customers pay about a penny per gallon.
Public Participation Hearings
As part of the review process, the CPUC will hold public participation hearings that serve as your opportunity for public input. Find upcoming, scheduled hearings.
