FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 15, 2013 

PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2013 

Contact: Rachel Gordon, DPW Office of Communications 

(415) 554-6045

Hearings Continue on Residential Refuse Rate Application 

More opportunities for public participation

San Francisco, CA – Hearings will resume Monday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 22, on the proposed increase for residential refuse-collection service in the City. 

Recology, the San Francisco refuse-collection and processing company, submitted a request in March for a 21.5 percent rate increase for residential service. Under the proposal, a typical household, with three 32-gallon bins (black, green and blue), would see a monthly rate increase of $6.60, from $27.91 to $34.51.

For the past two months, City staff from the Department of Public Works and the Department of the Environment has conducted a thorough review of Recology’s application, tested rate model calculations and assumptions, and verified the accuracy of Recology’s proposal. Staff found that not all of the requested increase was justified. The upcoming hearings will focus on the staff findings.

The final rate adjustment has not been determined.

San Francisco Department of Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru will hold his final two hearings on the rate increase application to hear from Recology, City staff and ratepayers.

Hearing details: 

 Monday, May 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., City Hall Room 408 

 Wednesday May 22, 1-5 p.m., City Hall Room 400

City Hall is located at 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place in the Civic Center neighborhood.

Once the hearings are completed, the director can make adjustments and will issue a report and recommended order that takes into account whether the company’s request is just and reasonable.

If appealed, the recommended order will be forwarded to the City’s Rate Board for consideration, with a final decision expected in the summer. The board is made up of the City Controller, the City Administrator and the general manager of the Public Utilities Commission.

A rate increase, if approved, would take effect late summer 2013. The City has contracted with a “ratepayer advocate” to assist the public during the rate-application proceedings. The ratepayer advocate provides the public with clear and accurate information regarding the proposed new rate structure; helps individuals and organizations formulate comments and questions; and represents the views of the ratepayers during public workshops and hearings. The role of the ratepayer advocate does not preclude members of the public from offering testimony in writing or in person on their own. The ratepayer advocate can be contacted by email at ratepayeradvocatesf@hfh-consultants.com, by phone at 415-554-6921 or in writing at SF Ratepayer Advocate, c/o HFH Consultants, 201 North Civic Drive, Suite 230, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. The staff report and details on the final rate application and on the review and approval process can be found online at www.sfdpw.org/refuserates.

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