Business Rates

Visit cityofpaloalto.org/ratesoverview for information about rate changes.

The following rate schedules are current:

Electric Utility Rates
Gas Utility Rates
Water and Wastewater Utility Rates - effective July 1, 2015
Water and Wastewater Utility Rates - effective September 1, 2015

Electric

Electricity - Small Commercial Electric Service
This schedule applies to non-demand metered electric service for small commercial customers and master-metered multi-family facilities.
Utility Rate Schedule E-2

Electricity -Small Commercial Green Power Electric Service
This schedule applies to non-demand metered electric service for small commercial customers and master-metered multi-family facilities receiving retail energy services from the City of Palo Alto Utilities under PaloAltoGreen.
Utility Rate Schedule E-2-G

Electricity - Medium Commercial Electric Service
This schedule applies to demand metered secondary electric service for commercial customers with a maximum demand below 1,000 kilowatts who have waived electric direct access eligibility. Utility Rate Schedule E-4

Electricity - Medium Commercial Electric Time of Use Service
This schedule applies to demand metered secondary electric service for commercial customers with a demand between 500 and 1,000 kilowatts who have sustained this level of usage for at least three consecutive months during the most recent 12 month period.
Utility Rate Schedule E-4 TOU

Electricity - Medium Commercial Green Power Electric Service
This schedule applies to demand metered secondary electric service for commercial customers with a maximum demand below 1,000 kilowatts who receive power under the Palo Alto Green plan.
Utility Rate Schedule E-4-G

Electricity - Large Commercial Electric Service
This schedule applies to demand metered secondary electric service for large commercial customers with a maximum demand of at least 1,000 kilowatts per month per site, who have sustained this demand level at least three consecutive months during the last twelve months.
Utility Rate Schedule E-7

Electricity - Large Commercial Electric Time of Use Service
This schedule applies to demand metered secondary electric service for commercial customers with a demand of at least 1,000 kilowatts per month per site, who have sustained this demand level at least three consecutive months during the last twelve months.
Utility Rate Schedule E-7 TOU

Electricity - Large Commercial Green Power Electric Service
This schedule applies to demand metered electric service for large commercial customers who receive power under PaloAltoGreen.
Utility Rate Schedule E-7-G

For customers with their own power generation facilities that are not net metered:
E-3 Electric Retail Rate for Customer-Owned Generation
The following rates apply to customer-owned power generating facilities that are not eligible for net metering.

Electricity - Net Metering Surplus Electric Compensation
This schedule applies to eligible residential and small commercial net metering customers who, at the end of an annual settlement period, as defined by Rule 29, are net surplus customer-generators of electricity and who elect to receive monetary compensation as such preference is indicated on the net surplus electricity election form. Utility Rate Schedule E-NSE-1

Fiber Optics

Dark Fiber Licensing Services (For existing accounts prior to 9-18-2006)
This rate schedule applies to customer accounts established prior to September 18, 2006, unless the customer elects to apply the EDF-3 rate to the entire customer account. This rate applies to Fiber Optic services from the City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) pertaining to the City's network (Backbone and associated connections). Utility Rate Schedule EDF-1

Dark Fiber Licensing Services ( For all new accounts after 9-18-2006 )
This rate schedule applies to customer created after September 18, 2006, and also may be elected at any time by customers existing prior to this date. This rate schedule applies to Fiber Optic services from the City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) pertaining to the City's network (Backbone and associated connections). Utility Rate Schedule EDF-3

Natural Gas

Commodity Charge:  Cost of natural gas on a per therm basis: 2011-current.

Natural Gas - Commercial Natural Gas
This schedule applies to non-residential customers who use less than 250,000 therms per year at a single address. Utility Rate Schedule G-2

Natural Gas - Large Commercial Gas Service Market-based Commodity
This schedule applies to service for large commercial customers who use at least 250,000 therms per year at one site and have retained gas direct access eligibility. Utility Rate Schedule G-3

Large Commercial - Green Gas Service

Residential Master-Metered and Commercial Green Gas Service

Water

Water - Residential Master-Metered and General Non-Residential Water Service
This schedule applies to non-residential water service in the City of Palo Alto and its distribution area. This schedule is also applicable to multi-family residential customers served through a master meter. Utility Rate Schedule W-4

Water - NonResidential Irrigation Water Service
This schedule applies to non-residential water service supplying dedicate irrigation meters in the City of Palo Alto and its distribution area. Utility Rate Schedule W-7

Wastewater (Sewer)

Wastewater - Commercial Wastewater Collection and Disposal
This schedule applies to all establishments other than domestic dwelling units, restaurants and large dischargers. Utility Rate Schedule S-2

Wastewater - Restaurant Wastewater Collection and Disposal
This schedule applies to all restaurants.  Utility Rate Schedule S-6

Wastewater - Commercial Wastewater Collection and Disposal - Industrial Discharger
This schedule applies to all large dischargers. Utility Rate S-7

Storm Drain

Storm Drain - General Storm Drain and Surface Water Drainage
This schedule applies to all storm and surface water drainage service, excepting only those users and to the extent that they are constitutionally exempt under the Constitution of the State of California or who are determined to be exempt pursuant to Rule and Regulation 25. Utility Rate Schedule D-1

Refuse (Garbage Collection)

Refuse - Commercial Refuse Collection
This schedule applies to all occupied establishments other than domestic dwelling as required by City ordinance. Utility Rate Schedule R-2

Refuse - Commercial Refuse Collection
This schedule applies to commercial establishments and multi-unit apartment dwellings using refuse containers rented from the contractor. Utility Rate Schedule R-3

Government/Municipal Utility Rates
City Facility Utility Rates
Utilities rates schedules for City facilities

Compressed Natural Gas Service
This schedule applies to the sale of compressed natural gas (CNG) at the City-owned natural gas fueling stations to customers who use CNG for fueling CNG vehicles. Utility Rate Schedule G-10

Compressed Natural Green Gas Service
This schedule applies to the wholesale sale of natural gas to the City-owned compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at the Municipal Service Center in Palo Alto under the Palo AltoGreen Gas Program. Utility Rate Schedule G-10

Municipal Electric Service
This schedule applies to service for buildings and facilities owned and/or operated by the City of Palo Alto. Utility Rate Schedule E-18

Municipal Green Power Electric Service
This schedule applies to buildings and facilities owned and/or operated by the City of Palo Alto under PaloAltoGreen. Utility Rate Schedule E-18-G

Street Lights
This schedule applies to street and highway lighting installations owned by any governmental agency other than the City of Palo Alto. Utility Rate Schedule E-14

Unmetered Electrical Service
This schedule applies to unmetered service and other miscellaneous Electric Utility fees to various public agencies and private entities. Utility Rate Schedule E-16

Miscellaneous Utility Rates

Utilities rates schedules for items not covered under other groupings.

Fire Service Connections
This schedule applies to all public fire hydrants and private fire service connections. Utility Rate Schedule W-3

Hauled Liquid Waste Charges
This schedule applies to wastes as defined in Rule and Regulation 23. Utility Rate Schedule S-4

Industrial Waste Laboratory and Analysis Charges
This schedule applies to all industrial waste. Utility Rate Schedule S-3

Water Service from Fire Hydrants
This schedule applies to all water taken from fire hydrants for construction, maintenance, and other uses in conformance with provisions of a Hydrant Meter Permit. Utility Rate Schedule W-2

Service Calls / Connection Fees

Utilities rates schedules for service calls and connection fees

Utility Service Calls
Service calls and other service work rates. Utility Rate Schedule C-1

Customer Deposits
This schedule applies to customers within the City limits of Palo Alto who are required to provide a deposit by the Utility. Utility Rate Schedule C-2

Electric Service Connection Fees
Connecting electric service inside the City of Palo Alto and applies to all connections, expansions, and upgrades to the City's electric distribution system except those that serve street lighting or traffic signals. Utility Rate Schedule E-15

Commercial Fiber Optic Service Connection Fees
Commercial Fiber Optic Fees. Utility Rate Schedule EDF-2

Gas Service Connection Fees
Connecting natural gas service inside the incorporated limits of the City of Palo Alto and on land owned or leased by the City of Palo Alto. Utility Rate Schedule G-5

Sewer Service Connection Fees
Connecting up to sewer service inside the incorporated limits of the City of Palo Alto and on land owned or leased by the City of Palo Alto. Utility Rate Schedule S-5

Water Service Connection Fees
Connecting water service inside the incorporated limits of the City of Palo Alto and on land owned or leased by the City of Palo Alto. Utility Rate Schedule W-5