The details
AW has forecast the need for potential water and wastewater rate increases to cover various system improvements and resiliency initiatives while the utility's customer base continues to expand.
"A Cost-of-Service Rate Study is being conducted now, with a goal of balancing affordability for customers, while improving and maintaining critical utility infrastructure for extreme weather and a growing population," utility officials said in a May news release.
The consulting firm NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC was chosen last year to evaluate AW's costs of service. That work on a $400,000 contract includes a look at AW's operating expenses as well as the costs of providing water and wastewater service in Central Texas, along with the community engagement process that's now underway.
The study is expected to wrap up in June and inform City Council's budgeting process for fiscal year 2024-25 this summer. More information about the rate study is available here.
Get involved
As AW considers the changes, a series of in-person open houses will offer the chance for anyone to ask AW staff questions about the utility's service and billing. Meetings include:
- May 23: Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S. Fifth St., 4-7 p.m.
- May 29: Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center Drive, Room 1, 4-7 p.m.
- May 30: Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Road, 4-7 p.m.
- June 1: Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Lane, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- June 4: Pleasant Hill Branch, 211 E. William Cannon Drive, 4-7 p.m.
- June 5: Spicewood Springs Branch, 8637 Spicewood Springs Road, 4-7 p.m.
- June 8: Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, 808 Nile St., 8:30-11:30 a.m.
- June 11: North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave., 4-7 p.m.
- June 15: Menchaca Road Branch, 5500 Menchaca Road, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- June 22: Montopolis Recreation & Community Center, 1200 Montopolis Drive, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Finally, a virtual open house with a presentation from Austin Water staff and customer Q&A will be held June 13 via Zoom from 6-7 p.m. Anyone interested can register here.
Some context
The Austin Water rate and service evaluation follows a handful of similar comprehensive reviews over the past several decades.
AW's first wide-ranging rate study took place in 1992 as a result of a legal settlement with some utility customers. In 1999, another cost-of-service study resulted in a rate system with new classifications for different customer classes.
A 2007 study focused on issues such as water conservation, while the most recent cost of service study took place in 2017 and led to a nearly 5% retail rate reduction in 2018.
