November 30, 2020
Water Rates
The Town is changing how we charge for water and wastewater service in 2021 to provide affordable, high quality, reliable service that rewards water efficiency. Did you know the cost of water and wastewater services are paid entirely by the rates you pay, not by taxes? Additionally, the Town can use the revenue from water and wastewater rates only for those services; in this way, the Town’s utilities operate as financially distinct “Enterprise” services. To make sure we are consistent with the enterprise approach, the Town, through a nationally-recognized independent consultant, recently reviewed how we charge for these services. Based on this review, we are adjusting rates into a new structure that balances these priorities: affordability, conservation, revenue stability, and equity. Under the new rates, higher users pay more, and lower users pay less because the rates more closely reflect the actual costs of service. In the new design, about 60 percent of customers will pay less than they do today, and 17 percent will see an increase of less than $50 a year.
Learn more about the rates and the Town's water conservation programs in the brochure landing this month with your utility bill, or online
here, or at
www.erie.co.gov/waterrates.