The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) plans to increase residential rates in 2026 to support a capital improvement plan focused on upgrades, the utility’s chief financial officer said during a Monday board meeting.

Doug Evanson, the executive VP and chief financial officer of SAWS, said that any rate increase would be the first for customers since January 2020.

Since the 2020 rate adjustment, SAWS has invested $2.2 billion in improvements without the need for a rate increase. Evanson said that cannot continue.

“In order to carry out the anticipated capital plan for 2026, I believe that rate supports will be needed to maintain our very strong credit metrics, which support our credit rating,” Evanson said.

Evanson stated that the utility company needs the rate support because of major proj

See Full Page