Over the next two years, the rate hikes will yield $138.6 million in income, with $92.4 million in 2021 and $46.2 million in 2022.
If authorized, a monthly water bill for an average residential customer using 3,458 gallons would rise from $57.85 to $65.91, a 13.9 percent increase in the first year.
In the first year, the average monthly household sewer payment would rise from $60.42 to $71.97, a 19.1 percent increase. The average monthly sewage payment would rise to $76.85 after a 6.8% increase in the second year.
A monthly water and sewer bill of $118.27 is currently received by the average Pennsylvania American customer. The payment will rise to $146.58 per month after the second wave of rate hikes takes effect, a 23.9 percent increase.
State regulators could take up to nine months to study and approve the rate hikes, which would take effect in 2021.
How much does a typical water bill cost?
The average American family uses 300 gallons of water per day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
16 That’s enough water to fill a six-person hot tub, to put it in context.
Water costs are also on the rise. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, it increased by 41%, with sewage charges and taxes increasing even more substantially. 17 Since 2015, the rate of increase has moderated, although prices have continued to rise.
In Pennsylvania, how much do monthly utilities cost?
Pennsylvania has greater utility and transportation costs than the national average, although not by a large margin. Utility expenditures for a two-person family will cost roughly $181 per month. The average cost of utilities for one person is around $115.
What is the typical monthly power bill in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania electricity bills The average home power bill in Pennsylvania is $160 per month, which is obtained by multiplying the average monthly consumption by the average electricity rate: 1,144 kWh * 14/kWh.
In Pennsylvania, how often do you get a water bill?
All properties inside Lancaster City borders, as well as clients in select other municipalities outside of Lancaster City, are served by the City of Lancaster’s water and sewer systems.
Customers in Lancaster City pay water and sewer rates set by city ordinance, which must be authorized by the city council and the mayor. Customers outside of Lancaster City pay water and sewer rates that are set by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and must be approved by the PUC.
Customers are invoiced monthly or quarterly (every three months) for water. Water bills are calculated using a monthly/quarterly Customer Charge as well as a Consumption Charge. The Customer Charge is a one-time fee based on the size of the water service line that links the customer’s property to the City’s water system. The Water Consumption Rate is multiplied by the amount of water used during the billing period (measured in thousands of gallons) to arrive at the Consumption Charge. Water consumption rates can be found under the Documents & Resources tab under the Water & Sewer Rates document.
Customers are billed monthly or quarterly (every three months) for sewer services. The volume of water consumed during the billing period (measured in thousands of gallons) multiplied by the Sewer Consumption Rate yields sewer costs. The Water & Sewer Rates paper in the Documents & Resources page below lists sewer consumption rates. Customers are only billed a monthly/quarterly Sewer Minimum Charge if their computed Consumption Charge is less than the minimum during any monthly/quarterly billing period.
The complete Water and Sewer Rate Tariffs, as approved by the PUC, are available in the Documents & Resources page below.
Proposed Water Rate Increase Customers Outside of the City
The Lancaster Bureau of Water has filed a new tariff with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise water prices for customers who live beyond the city limits. In 2015, the City raised water rates for the first time. The new water prices are set to take effect on November 30, 2021, in order to recuperate increasing costs associated with providing water service. The rate increase is primarily intended to recuperate the additional capital investment in the City’s water facilities. The City of Lancaster has sought a $4,024,593 annual rate hike, or 21.3 percent.
If the City’s complete proposal is accepted, a residential customer consuming 13,600 gallons per quarter with a 5/8 inch meter’s total bill would increase by 21.2 percent, from $77.70 to $94.14 each quarter. A commercial customer utilizing 68,000 gallons per month with a 2-inch meter would see a 14.0 percent rise in their monthly rate, from $312.86 to $356.78. An industrial customer consuming 430,000 gallons per month with a 2-inch meter would see a 7.6% rise in monthly rates, from $1,697.15 to $1,826.86.
Why is Philadelphia’s water so expensive?
According to a recent survey of the nation’s 500 largest water systems, Pennsylvania has the highest prices levied by private corporations.
According to analysts, rising prices are caused by aging infrastructure and an investor-friendly regulatory environment.
This attracted our attention because a number of Commonwealth communities are exploring or have recently privatized water treatment and delivery.
Why are cities contemplating privatization? To fund system improvements, produce funds for a separate obligation, or both.
In Philadelphia, how much does a sewer bill cost?
The Philadelphia Water Department is continuing working on the tiered assistance program (TAP), which will determine the income-based rate. However, the fundamental ideas have been proven.
The income-based rates are based on federal poverty requirements, which vary depending on the number of individuals living together and are based on pre-tax income. Monthly water bills are calculated as a percentage of income by TAP. The water bill, which includes sewer and stormwater levies, will cost 2% of monthly income for a household paying zero to 50% of the poverty level. A household earning between 51% and 100% of the poverty level will pay 2.5 percent of monthly income; a household earning between 101 percent and 150 percent would pay 3%. The monthly minimum bill will be $12.
These percentages are lower than the 4.5 percent of income affordability level set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for a combined water and sewer bill.
The water department will monitor for abnormally high use and will not charge TAP households depending on consumption. These households will receive free low-flow fixtures, leak detection tests, and water conservation instruction.
TAP households will ultimately pay less than they would under standard water rates. The amount of money saved is determined by the size and income of the household. A three-person home earning $20,000 per year would pay $41.66 per month for water, falling into the 51 to 100 percent range. A two-person household with a yearly income of $15,000 would pay $31.25 per month. (In 2017, the federal government set a poverty level of $20,420 for a three-person household and $16,240 for a two-person household.) According to the water department, the average home water, sewage, and stormwater bill in Philadelphia is $70.87.
According to Colton, arrears, or past-due debts, lead to a debt spiral. Households fall behind on payments for a variety of reasons: a temporary job stops or an unforeseen bill emerges. Any unfortunate break can push folks living on the edge over the brink. Because of the way loan repayments are structured, it’s difficult to stay current once you’ve fallen behind. “Customers can’t pay their current invoices unless they’ve paid all of their past due bills.” In a review of a Philadelphia arrears forgiveness program, Colton said, “Customers cannot retire their new arrears without first retiring their prior arrears.”
According to the Philadelphia Water Department, 5,445 consumers were enrolled in WRAP as of May 10, with an average arrears of $4,841. When a customer account is $75 beyond due and the home has received two shutdown letters, the account may be switched off. According to Dahme, some 40,000 accounts are currently eligible for cutoff.
Average past-due balances would be projected to drop if the water department’s present assistance measures were effective. Instead, they’ve consistently risen, with WRAP enrollees up 43 percent since 2009.
Customers that participate in TAP will have their past due accounts suspended and will not be required to make any arrears payments while enrolled. The balances, on the other hand, will not be wiped clean just yet. According to Eric Bodzin, a legislative aide to Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez, the City Council law that established TAP provides for debt forgiveness, but those elements are still being discussed between the Philadelphia Water Department and Councilwoman Quinones-office. Sanchez’s
How is the cost of water calculated?
Because water rates vary a lot from county to county, you should double-check your local water rates with your municipality AND keep an eye out for any recent or impending changes in their pricing system.
Due to aging waterworks infrastructure, many areas in the United States have seen a significant increase in their water rates, so contact your municipality and confirm what rate you are currently being charged per unit of water measurement (by the gallon or by the cubic foot) AND whether that figure is likely to change.
Simply multiply your estimated usage for this month by the unit rate to determine a potential bill.
All of this information about how the provider determines your bill should be clearly presented on your statement. If you’re still unsure whether you’re paying too much or suspect a faulty or erroneous meter reading, contact your local municipality or water agency. On your water bill, there should be a phone number to call if you have any questions.
How can you figure out how much water you use?
Meters keep track of how much water is consumed. You may calculate how many units of water you’ve used since your last meter reading by subtracting the current measurement from the previous reading. To calculate your water consumption in dollars, multiply the units by your current water rate.