Water Budget-Based Rates:

A Tutorial for Considering a Budget-Based Water
Rate Structure

Water Budget-Based Rates, or BBRs, are also known as Water Budgets, Allocation-Based Rates, Conservation-Based Rates, Efficiency-Based Rates, and Sustainable Rates. BBRs are an innovative, progressive approach to managing customer demands, while minimizing revenue impacts to water agencies. The purpose of this website is to provide a practical, usable Resource Guide featuring case studies on developing and implementing BBRs – such examples of successes and challenges may help stimulate other agencies throughout the State in establishing similar rate structures.
This How-To Resource Guide was prepared through contributions and information from water districts that have direct experience in implementing BBRs.

Find out more about the agencies involved at Who We Are »

The following pages provide an overview of the various experiences of the districts as they set about implementing BBRs, from calculating water budgets, to public acceptance, billing systems, and legality.

See Benefits of Budget-Based Rates for a summary of some of the reasons an agency may choose to consider BBRs and case studies on the effectiveness of BBRs in promoting water conservation.