A proposal presented to the City Council on Sept. 9 calls for annual rate increases of 5% for city water customers and 7% for wastewater starting in 2026. “Thousand Oaks relies almost entirely on imported water, making costs particularly sensitive to wholesale price increases,” Tosatto said. The goal is to offset revenue losses during conservation periods, since most utility costs remain fixed even as water sales decline. To offset the impact of rising costs, the city operates a utility assistance program for income-qualified households already enrolled in Southern California Edison or SoCalGas’ CARE programs. The council will hold a public hearing on Nov. 4 before voting on whether to adopt the proposed rates.