The new water and wastewater rates come after a cost-of-service rate study was completed this summer by outside consultants. The study helped determine the rates and rate structure needed to equitably fund the water utility, including all costs associated with operating, maintaining and expanding the utility, a release said.
The new water rates include an increase of $1.50 to the average residential customer’s base rate. The change also includes reducing the number of tiers for the volumetric rate to help meet the council’s conservation goals, the release said.
For the average water user using 10,200 gallons per month, the monthly water bill will increase to $46.25 from $40.98.
The council also approved increasing residential wastewater rates, which for residential customers will increase to $34.85, up from $32 per month.
The new water and wastewater rates go into effect Jan. 1.
As part of the study, the consulting firm reviewed the costs associated with operating, maintaining and expanding a utility and projected those costs over the next five years to determine the revenue required to cover those costs, the release said. In addition to expenses, the cost-of-service rate study also evaluated how the different types of customers, such as residential, industrial and commercial users, used the system to make sure each type of rate payer is paying their fair share and treated equitably.
"The utility reviews its rates and impact fees every three years to ensure the costs to operate the utility are covered by the combination of rates, impact fees, and bond issuance," the release said, noting the last water rate study was completed in 2018. "The rate study completed in 2020 was done a year early due to the anticipated need for additional revenue to help fund significant water and wastewater projects that have been accelerated to meet customer demand."
Water rates were last adjusted for residential customers in 2014, nonresidential water rates in 2019 and wastewater rates for all customers in 2019.
See gus.georgetown.org/water/2020-water-rate-study-faq for more information.
Council also approved a $1.37 increase to residential customer solid waste rates to help cover an increase in costs from Texas Disposal Systems, the expansion of the Transfer Station and the city’s household hazardous waste program. The updated solid waste rates go into effect Nov. 1.
