Wholesale water rates — a key driver of the water bills of residents and businesses across the county — are not expected to rise nearly as much next year as previously thought. County water officials on Thursday lowered their projected wholesale water rate hike for next year from 18% to 12%, thanks primarily to higher projected water sales to local agencies over the next three years. The higher sales projections are based partly on the particularly dry winter and spring San Diego has experienced, which has increased demand for irrigation water from farmers and people with large lawns. … (T)he dry winter has pushed the expected demand from member agencies for next year about 10% higher than was estimated just last month — from 300,000 acre-feet to 327,000 acre-feet. 

Other water rate news:

• SJV Water: Bakersfield poised to send notices of proposed water rate hike following disastrous sewer fee proposal
• The Atascadero News (Calif.): Atascadero moves forward with sewer rate hike process