The suburban expansion of wholesale communities on the Peninsula and in the East Bay, where residential development is occurring, as well as rate increases passed on to these suburban customers, contributed to overall growth in the commission's revenues despite a political framework that historically included a retail rate freeze. In addition, the regional economy is stable, broadly characterized by solid employment markets, strong household wealth, and high incomes, although this is countered by a very high cost of living. About 2.4 million customers in and around San Francisco rely on water from the commission.
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