On July 30, 2025, a divided California Court of Appeal issued its long-awaited opinion in Patz v. City of San Diego, affirming the trial court’s judgment that the City’s tiered residential water rates violated Proposition 218...more
8/1/2025
/ Appeals ,
California ,
Class Action ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Damages ,
Judicial Review ,
Public Utility ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Remand ,
State and Local Government ,
State Constitutions ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Utilities Sector ,
Water
The landscape for water rate setting in California is quickly evolving, and public agencies face growing challenges adjusting to new and complex standards when establishing or increasing water fees and charges. For example,...more
A city’s annual budgetary transfer from its electric utility to its general fund, referred to as a payment in lieu of taxes and known as PILOT, is an electric utility cost and not an exaction subject to Proposition 26, the...more