Status as of Nov. 11, 2026: Glendale City Council held a continued Proposition 218 public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, on proposed Glendale Water & Power (GWP) water rates for 2027 through 2031. That hearing was continued from Nov. 3, 2026. As of this morning, the city has not posted official minutes or a decision on the proposal. The city’s meeting portal lists the Nov. 10 agenda, packet, and a meeting video, but not minutes. This article describes the proposed rates. We will update this page when an official outcome is posted.
If the City Council adopts the proposal, the new water rates would take effect January 1, 2027, with further adjustments each January 1 through 2031. They would not all rise by the same percentage. A typical single-family bill in the lowest pump zone would go up less than a bill in the hills, and the official first-year “53%” figure is a revenue increase, not a typical household bill increase.
What Is Proposed?
GWP asked the City Council to adopt a five-year water rate plan based on a cost-of-service study by Raftelis, formally titled the Water Financial Plan & Rate Study. The plan in front of the Council is Alternative 2b in that study. It is a water-only proposal. Electric rates are separate, and they were not part of this hearing.
The study’s proposed financial plan lists these water “revenue increases,” meaning the additional amount of revenue collected compared with current rates:
| Effective date | Proposed revenue increase |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 | 53.0% |
| January 1, 2028 | 11.0% |
| January 1, 2029 | 10.0% |
| January 1, 2030 | 10.0% |
| January 1, 2031 | 7.0% |
The study is explicit: “revenue increases are not the same as customer bill impacts,” because the new rate structure and cost allocations would change bills by different amounts for different customers. Over the five-year study period, Alternative 2b includes about $100.12 million in water system repair and replacement, a $40 million bond, and average yearly capital spending of $20 million. In an official October 17, 2026 community meeting Q&A, GWP estimated the proposed rates would generate about $24 million in additional annual revenue.
If adopted, the structure of the bill would also change:
- You would still pay a fixed monthly charge based on meter size. For 2027, the proposed fixed charge for 5/8-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch meters is the same amount, $42.00 a month. Today those three sizes are billed at $19.37, $27.02, and $42.37. The 3/4-inch meter is the most common. Official community meeting answers say 63% of customers have a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch meter.
- Usage charges would move from three tiers for some customer classes to two tiers for all classes. The two tiers are meant to reflect the difference between local groundwater and more expensive imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).
- Tier 1 allotments would be set by meter size, not by the number of dwelling units. That is a major change for multifamily accounts, which today get a Tier 1 allotment of 6 hundred cubic feet (HCF) per dwelling unit.
- A new pump-zone charge would apply to each unit of water used, across seven elevation zones. There is no pump-zone charge today.
Water use on the bill is measured in HCF. The official notice says 1 HCF is about 748 gallons. For 2027, the proposed single-family and multifamily volumetric rates are $4.09 per HCF in Tier 1 and $6.92 in Tier 2. For a 5/8-inch, 3/4-inch, or 1-inch meter, Tier 1 would cover 0-10 HCF a month, and use above 10 HCF would be billed at the Tier 2 rate. Current single-family rates are $2.80 (0-8 HCF), $4.11 (9-15 HCF), and $4.28 (above 15 HCF).
The proposed rates would still be subject to the Water Adjustment Charge (WAC) under Glendale Municipal Code section 13.08.150, which can go up or down when purchased-water and pumping-power costs differ from what GWP budgeted. The official bill estimator also excludes the utility users tax. A Phase 3 drought surcharge of $0.45 per HCF is now in effect and is included in the estimator’s “current” column only. The proposed 2027-2031 base rates in the notice do not include a drought surcharge. The published 2027 rates are not a complete bill.
What Would a Typical Single-Family Bill Look Like?
The official study’s average single-family example is a 3/4-inch meter using 12 HCF a month. The first-year monthly increases below include the current $0.45 per HCF drought surcharge in today’s bill, and they are for January 1, 2027:
| Pump zone (elevation) | FY 2027 monthly increase at 12 HCF |
|---|---|
| Zone 1 (724 ft) | $26.08 |
| Zone 2 (968 ft) | $28.48 |
| Zone 3 (1,290 ft) | $35.56 |
| Zone 4 (1,666 ft) | $47.44 |
| Zone 5 (2,000 ft) | $53.20 |
| Zone 6 (2,400 ft) | $66.52 |
| Zone 7 (2,483 ft) | $86.44 |
The $26.08 figure for Zone 1 is the official average single-family first-year increase in the study. Households in higher zones would pay substantially more for the same amount of water, because of the new pump-zone charge. Your bill can also be higher or lower than these examples depending on your meter size and how much water you use.
The study also gives other average-use examples in Zone 1: a multifamily duplex at 18 HCF would see a first-year increase of $45.78, or $136.32 in Zone 7; a commercial account at 12 HCF would see $17.24 in Zone 1.
Do not rely on a single “typical bill” number you may have seen in news coverage. Use the official estimator for your own account.
How Do I Find My Pump Zone and Estimate My Bill?
Pump zone is not printed on the GWP bill. The official GWP Water Bill Estimator has a map. Find your neighborhood on that map, then enter your customer class, meter size, pump zone, and monthly use in HCF. GWP bills are often for about 60 days. If the “Days” line on page 3 of your bill is about 60, divide the HCF usage by 2 before you enter it. Meter size and customer class are in the water row of the Account Details table on page 3; official meeting answers say meter size is listed under “Rate.”
GWP Customer Service can also confirm your meter size and pump zone: (855) 550-4497, Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or GWPCustomerService@GlendaleCA.gov.
The estimator compares current monthly charges with the proposed rates for 2027 through 2031. It is an estimate, not a bill. As noted above, it includes the current drought surcharge in the 2026 column only, and it does not include the WAC or the utility users tax.
Why Is GWP Proposing This?
The official Proposition 218 notice and the city’s proposed-rates materials give three main reasons:
- Aging infrastructure. The official proposed-rates page says about 196,000 people rely on GWP, and that the system includes 16 active groundwater wells, 28 reservoirs, and over 400 miles of pipeline. The notice says much of the system has aged beyond its useful life, and that emergency repairs cost more than planned work.
- The cost of imported water. The official notice says Glendale relies on MWD for 60 to 70 percent of its supply (the notice’s pie chart shows MWD 65%, groundwater 30%, and recycled water 5%), and that MWD rates have increased by about 34% since July 2022. GWP says it can no longer absorb those increases.
- Cost-of-service rules. The notice says water rates may only cover the cost of providing water service, and that GWP does not use tax dollars to provide water service. The study says GWP’s last water rate adjustment took effect July 1, 2023.
Electric Rates Are Separate
The Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 hearings were about water rates and a proposed Water System cash reserve policy, not electric rates. In an official city bulletin sent October 9, 2025, the city said that after City Council approval, a previously scheduled 11.3% electric increase would be split into 5.0% effective November 1, 2025, 2.95% effective November 1, 2026, and 2.95% effective November 1, 2027. Check GWP’s current electric rates page for what is on your electric bill now. A protest of the water proposal would not cover electric rates.
The Proposition 218 Protest Process
Under Proposition 218 (California Constitution Article XIII D, Section 6), the city had to mail notice of the proposed water rates and hold a public hearing. A majority protest exists if, at the end of the hearing, valid written protests represent a majority of the affected parcels (50% plus 1). The official proposed-rates page said that, based on 44,757 parcels in the Los Angeles County Assessor’s parcel list, a minimum of 22,379 valid written protests would constitute a majority. If a majority protest exists, the city may not adopt the proposed rates. The Council may reduce rates, but it may not set them higher than the amounts in the notice.
The mailed notice said a counted protest had to be in paper form and include all of the following: clearly stated opposition to the proposed water rate adjustments; the name of the record property owner or customer of record; the property’s street address, assessor’s parcel number, or the customer account number; and an original signature and a legibly printed name. Email, fax, and spoken comments do not count. Only one protest per parcel is counted. Owners of more than one parcel may file one protest for each parcel.
Written protests had to be delivered at the hearing before it closed, or mailed or delivered in person to the City Clerk, City of Glendale, 613 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206, and received by city staff before the hearing concluded. A postmark was not enough, and the notice said no late protests would be accepted after the hearing closed.
The mailed notice named the hearing date as November 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 2nd floor, 613 E. Broadway. The City Council opened that hearing on Nov. 3 and continued it to Nov. 10. The city’s Engage Glendale page said protests would be accepted through Nov. 10 if the Council approved the continuance. As of Nov. 11, 2026, the city had not posted an official protest count or a decision. Because the notice said late protests would not be accepted after the hearing closed, do not assume you can still file a protest.
Ways to Lower Your Bill
Using less water lowers both the volumetric charge and the proposed pump-zone charge, because both are based on how many HCF you use. The fixed meter charge would be billed either way.
GWP lists rebates for water-saving devices. On the official residential rebate page, in an October 3, 2026 snapshot of that page, the amounts included $200 for a qualifying flow-monitor or leak-detection device (reliable Wi-Fi and a smartphone or tablet are required) and $100 for a premium high-efficiency toilet that uses 1.1 gallons per flush or less. The same list included other water items, such as a $200 rebate for a high-efficiency clothes washer and $50 to $150 for a weather-based irrigation controller. Those amounts were labeled as updated effective November 1, 2025. Rebate funding is limited, amounts can change, and you generally need to be a GWP customer and apply within 12 months of purchase. Confirm the current amounts and rules on the live GWP rebate page before you buy anything.
GWP also points customers to a turf replacement program through SoCal Water$mart. Official pages in 2026 have listed more than one per-square-foot amount, so we are not posting a rebate figure here. Check the official turf replacement page or SoCal Water$mart for the current amount, project-size limits, and rules. The program rules that were posted do not allow synthetic turf.
Glendale Care is GWP’s low-income assistance program. It offers up to a $35 monthly discount on the electric portion of the bill, according to the official program page and a February 2026 GWP newsletter. It is not a discount on the water charges. Income limits and other rules are on the Glendale Care page. The last posted income table we reviewed was listed as effective February 2, 2026. Check the live page before you apply.
If you are worried about paying the bill, the official October 17 community meeting Q&A says to contact GWP Customer Service to review assistance programs and your circumstances.
This is general information, not legal, financial, or billing advice. Proposed rates, program rules, and rebate amounts can change. Check the City of Glendale and GWP for your account.
FAQ
Did the City Council approve the new water rates?
As of the morning of Nov. 11, 2026, the city has not posted official minutes or a decision. The Council held a continued Proposition 218 hearing on Nov. 10, after opening the hearing on Nov. 3. We will update this page when an official outcome is posted.
When would the proposed rates start?
If they are adopted, January 1, 2027, with further adjustments each January 1 through 2031.
Does the 53% figure mean my bill would go up 53%?
No. In the official study, 53% is the first-year revenue increase under the proposed financial plan, not a typical household bill increase. For an average single-family customer on a 3/4-inch meter using 12 HCF a month, the study’s first-year increase is $26.08 a month in Pump Zone 1, and as much as $86.44 a month in Zone 7. Your result depends on meter size, use, and zone.
How do I find my pump zone?
It is not listed on the bill. Use the map on the official GWP Water Bill Estimator, or call GWP Customer Service at (855) 550-4497 to confirm your zone and meter size.
How do I estimate my own bill?
Use the official estimator at waterbillestimator.glendaleca.gov. Enter your customer class, meter size, pump zone, and monthly HCF (divide a roughly 60-day bill’s usage by 2). The tool is an estimate. It leaves out the Water Adjustment Charge and the utility users tax, and it includes the current $0.45 per HCF drought surcharge in the “current” column only.
What was the Proposition 218 protest threshold?
A majority of affected parcels, which the official proposed-rates page calculated as 22,379 valid written protests out of 44,757 parcels. Email, fax, and spoken comments did not count. Written protests had to be received before the public hearing closed. As of Nov. 11, 2026, the city had not posted an official protest count. Do not assume you can still file a protest.
Are electric rates part of this proposal?
No. This hearing was about water rates and a proposed water system cash reserve policy. Electric rates are set separately. An official city bulletin in October 2025 said a previously scheduled electric increase had been split, including 2.95% steps on November 1, 2026, and November 1, 2027. Check GWP’s electric rates page for current electric charges.
Does Glendale Care lower my water bill?
No. Glendale Care is an electric-bill discount of up to $35 a month for qualifying low-income GWP electric customers, as listed on the official program page. It does not apply to the water charges. If you need help with a water bill, contact GWP Customer Service.
Can rebates help offset a higher water bill?
They can reduce use, which lowers the usage and pump-zone charges. The official rebate list, as posted in early October 2026, included $200 for a qualifying leak-detection device and $100 for a premium high-efficiency toilet. Confirm current amounts on GWP’s rebate page before you buy.
Official Links
- Engage Glendale: Proposed Water Rates
- City of Glendale: Information on Proposed Water Rates
- GWP Water Bill Estimator
- Proposition 218 Notice of Public Hearing and Proposed Water Rate Changes (English PDF)
- GWP Water Financial Plan & Rate Study (Cost of Service Analysis)
- City of Glendale meeting portal (agendas, packets, and video)
- GWP: Smart Home Rebate Program
- GWP: Glendale Care
- GWP: Turf Replacement Program
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