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The New Braunfels Utilities, or NBU, board of trustees approved a proposed increase to electric, water, and wastewater utility rates on May 29, according to a news release.
A quick note
This is the first of three required approvals needed for the rates to increase. Final passage is contingent upon two approvals by the New Braunfels City Council. If approved, the new rates will take effect on August 1, the release states.
Why now?
The proposed rate increase is based on findings from an independent study by Raftelis, a national utility consulting firm. The study determined adjustments are necessary for infrastructure upgrades, future growth, rising costs for materials and labor, and meeting increasing regulatory mandates for electric, water and wastewater, the news release states.
The impact
If approved, the proposed changes would increase the average residential monthly bill by:
NBU CEO Ryan Kelso said the adjustments will help better serve customers.
“These proposed adjustments are not about today's costs alone; they're about making smart, community-driven investments that protect both our systems and the people who rely on them for decades to come," Kelso said in the news release.
NBU Board President Wayne Peters emphasized that NBU only charges what it costs to deliver electric, water and wastewater services.
“Every dollar paid by our more than 60,000 customers is reinvested into infrastructure, reliability and customer support—ensuring a safe and resilient system for our community,” Peters said in the release.
Looking ahead
The proposed rate increases will go before the New Braunfels City Council on June 16 and again on June 23 for final consideration.
