The rate package was developed through a series of public meetings by SFPUC staff with the input, guidance and review of the Rate Fairness Board, an advisory group of SFPUC ratepayers and City financial officers created under the voter-approved Proposition E (2002) to ensure rate stability, fairness and affordability. The SFPUC has been working to educate residential and commercial customers about the new rate package since the beginning of the year, presenting at nearly 50 community, professional and neighborhood group meetings and holding numerous public meetings and hearings.

Proposition E, approved by San Francisco voters on November 5th, 2002, directed the establishment of a Rate Fairness Board to advise the Public Utilities Commission on water and sewer rate matters. These provisions went into effect on January 3, 2003, with respect to sewer rates. The RFB provisions will apply to water rates beginning July 2006. Specific duties for the RFB include:

1. annual review of a five-year rate forecast;
2. hold one or more public hearings on annual rate recommendations before the Public Utilities Commission adopts rates;
3. provide a report and recommendations to the Public Utilities Commission on the rate proposal; and,
4. in connection with periodic rate studies, submit to the Public Utilities Commission rate policy recommendations for the Commission's consideration, including recommendations to reallocate costs among various retail utility customer classifications, subject to any outstanding bond requirements.

The RFB began consideration of sewer rate proposals in January 2004.

Member Name:	Appointed By:
Howard Ash, Residential City Retail Customer	Board of Supervisors
Bobbrie Brown, Residential City Retail Customer	Mayor
Ed Harrington, City Controller	Ex Officio
Ed Lee, City Administrator	Ex Officio
Ben Rosenfield, Assistant City Administrator	Ed Lee designee
Todd Rydstrom, Director of Budget & Analysis	Ed Harrington designee
Nadia Sesay, Director of Public Finance	Ex Officio
VACANT, City Retail Large Business Customer	Mayor
VACANT, City Retail Small Business Customer	Board of Supervisors

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