Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Fremont, California public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
3 issues in water utilities
Utility rate increases for 2026-2027
Electric rates rise 9.5% per year, sewer 8% per year, and water 6.5% per year for two years; gas stays flat. Council members stressed the increases follow independent rate studies and advance planning, not last-minute decisions.
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) purchase
The council approved buying electric meters to finish the smart-meter rollout, which lets the utility read meters remotely and track outages in real time. Officials addressed privacy concerns, saying the meters collect only consumption data.
2026-2027 Utility Rate Ordinances
The council finalized electric, gas, sewer and water rates for the next two years. Council members acknowledged the increases are hard on residents but said decades of underinvestment nationwide make them necessary to keep infrastructure reliable.