City Council members Thursday are expected to create Sacramento’s first Utilities Rate Advisory Committee. And Utilities Director Gary Reents says they need seven committee members.   

"Five members of whom would have specialized expertise, everywhere from legal to accounting to engineering to operational experience in utilities and two members who would be at large – they would not be subject to the expertise requirement." 

City Council members will still have the final say on rate hikes, but the committee will give them advice. If all goes as planned, the committee will be in place by March.