What is a Budget Based Rate Structure?

• IRWD's budget based rate structure uses property-specific water budgets and tiered pricing to provide customers with an economic incentive to encourage efficient water use. 
   
• Budget based rate structures are fair. They reward those who use water wisely and shift the costs associated with water over-use to those that waste water. 
   
• IRWD's Budget based rate structure provides our customers with the water they need at some the lowest rates in Orange County. When more water is used than a customer is budgeted higher rates are charged. The revenue collected from those overuse rates is then used to support conservation, environmental programs, and for the costs associated with additional water supply purchases.
   
• Budget based rate structures have a proven track record. When IRWD implemented this rate structure in the Irvine Service Area, the area experienced a significant drop in water consumption while, at the same time, the health of landscapes improved.