A quick note
The decision to increase rates required three approvals. The first was from the NBU board of trustees on May 29. Then the item went before council during a special meeting on June 16, where it was approved on first reading.
The decision to increase rates for water and wastewater were unanimously approved by the dais, but the decision to adjust electric rates passed 6-1, with council member Toni Carter dissenting.
What residents should know
The rate increase is based on findings from an independent study by Raftelis. Raftelis is a national utility consulting firm. The study determined adjustments were necessary for infrastructure upgrades, future growth, rising costs for materials and labor, and meeting increasing regulatory mandates for electric, water and wastewater, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
The average residential monthly bill will increase by:
- $16 a month for customers who receive electric, water and wastewater, and use water for essential indoor needs
- $26 a month for customers with electric, water and wastewater who also chose to water their lawns or landscapes
What council is saying
Council member Michael Capizzi said infrastructure upgrades need to happen now, not 5-10 years from now.
“The easy thing to do, the convenient thing to do, the feel good thing to do is to vote no to a rate increase because you don’t have to worry about emails, you don’t have to worry about phone calls, you don’t have to worry about upsetting anybody but we didn’t get elected to make people feel good. We got elected to lead,” Capizzi said.
Council member Mary Ann Labowski said she did not think that NBU’s rates were that high.
Council member April Ryan said the city needs reliability and infrastructure.
“No one likes to pay more for what they’re already paying for but it’s important for this community,” Ryan said.
Quote of note
NBU Chief Executive Officer Ryan Kelso said they were grateful to members of City Council and the NBU board of trustees for their "thoughtful review” and to the CAP for shaping their priorities of reliability and affordability.
“These 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 a news release.
What’s next?
The new rates will take effect August 1.
