Welcome to Chester Public Utility District. I’m Bonnie Mullaney, and it’s a privilege to serve as your General Manager.

I have spent 24 years working with special districts and public utilities. I started as an elected board member, so I know firsthand what it means to answer to the community you serve. From there I moved into operations and management, learning the work from the ground up, from budgets and accounting to state regulations, and everything in between. Every one of those roles taught me the same thing: a utility exists to serve the people who rely on it.

Along the way, I learned the importance of education. Laws, regulations, and best practices for utilities change constantly. Since the start of my career, I have regularly attended trainings through the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), deepening my understanding of the roles of the Board and staff and the laws that govern them.

Transparency and careful spending are crucial in a small district. You have a right to know how your money is spent. Our budgets, financial reports, and Board meetings are open to the public, and I’m always happy to walk anyone through the numbers. We work hard to keep costs down, so that when rates must rise, the increase is needed and no larger than it has to be. We also go after state and federal grants so that major projects aren’t paid for by local ratepayers alone.

Planning for the future

Much of Chester’s water and sewer system was built decades ago. Keeping rates low today can’t come at the cost of letting pipes, wells, tanks, and equipment wear out. That only leads to bigger bills and emergency repairs later. My job is to strike the right balance: steady maintenance and planned replacement now, so the system stays reliable for the next generation.

How our rates compare

Our 2026 independent rate study compared Chester’s monthly bills with those of other water and sewer agencies across Northern California, including here in Plumas County:

• Water: Chester had the lowest water bill of the 19 systems compared. That’s less than half the California average of $77.00.
• Sewer: Chester had the lowest sewer bill of the 14 agencies compared.

The rate increases adopted this year are phased in gradually. Even after the final step in 2030–31, Chester’s projected water bill will still be below today’s California average and below what most of the agencies in the study charge today. We intend to keep Chester affordable through careful management, not by putting off the work our system needs.

Chester is a small community, and I believe that’s our strength. You should never feel like a number on a bill in a small community. Our small staff work hard every day to deliver safe, reliable service.

My door is always open. If you have a question about your bill, your service, or anything else, I want to hear from you. To make sure I can give you my full attention, please call or email ahead to set up an appointment:

Phone: 707-932-0800
Email: bmullaney@chesterpud.org

Thank you for being part of our community. I look forward to hearing from you.

Bonnie Mullaney, General Manager