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 in Pittsburgh cost?
The average residential customer utilizing 3,000 gallons of water per month will pay approximately $85 per month for water, wastewater conveyance, and stormwater services under our present rates. For income-qualified homes, we also offer a bill discount program that provides a 100% reduction on monthly minimum water and wastewater rates, as well as an 85% reduction on the stormwater charge. For the average home water, sewer, and stormwater customer, this equates to a monthly savings of $41.90.
Your ratepayer money go to important water, sewer, and stormwater projects in our service region. We do not have shareholders and do not make a profit, unlike investor-owned utilities. Instead, our primary focus is on providing the greatest possible service to our consumers at the lowest possible cost.
Any cash collected from ratepayers in 2022 that is not spent will be utilized to fund future infrastructure projects or to reduce future rate increases.
Your assistance as a ratepayer will assist us in achieving our objectives, which include transparency, accountability, dependability, affordability, and more. These objectives include:
- Managing Pittsburgh’s water responsibly and sustainably – today and in the future
- Providing safe, dependable water and exceptional customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Our drinking water, stormwater, and sewer infrastructure is being renewed and upgraded to meet or exceed all compliance standards.
- Making water service accessible to low-income consumers by providing customer support and maintaining a winter water shut-off moratorium.
- Charging each customer fairly and equally based on their use of our system
- Being a respected regional custodian of our most valuable resource water
How is the cost of water in the United States calculated?
Water usage is measured in a variety of ways by different utilities. The gallon and the centum cubic foot (CCF) are the most prevalent units. One hundred cubic feet of water is represented by a CCF, commonly known as an HCF (hundred cubic feet). The first “C” is derived from the Latin word “centum,” which means “hundred.” Both water and natural gas utilities utilize this as the most frequent unit. The gallon, on the other hand, may be a unit you’re more familiar with. 748 gallons are equal to one CCF.
What does your phrasing imply? The average American home uses about 88 gallons of water per day. In a 30-day period, a household of four would need roughly 10,500 gallons. However, because of variances in weather patterns, utilization varies greatly across the country. Water use is higher in drier portions of the country that rely more on irrigation for outdoor watering than in wetter areas that may rely on more rainfall, for example.
Water Research Foundation, “Residential End Uses of Water, Version 2.” 2016; and US Geological Survey, “Estimated Water Use in the United States.” 2010.
What is your usage trend?
Is your bill able to explain your family’s consumption pattern? Some utilities provide graphs like the ones below, which indicate how your water usage has changed during the year and in past years. This can be a useful tool for determining when your own water use peaks.
While conserving water is important all year, the timing of water consumption can have a significant impact on community water suppliesand your water bill. When it’s hot outside, WaterSense has some suggestions to help you save water.
Water utilities plan for higher summertime usage since they must be able to supply all of a community’s water needs over a long period of time. During the peak, some systems may be obliged to limit outdoor watering to ensure that water is available for more pressing community requirements.
How does your use compare to that of your neighbor?
Some utilities provide data on how your household stacks up against your neighbors’. This can help you assess how your water usage compares to other users in your climate zone and can be a useful tool for determining your “WaterSense.” Some utilities provide bills that match your usage to that of a random group of your neighbors, while others, like the one shown below, employ a “tiered system” to distinguish consumers.
How are you being charged?
Customers must pay for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure, which includes water storage tanks, treatment plants, and underground pipes that supply water to houses and businesses. The money is also used to pay the people who provide you with water service at all hours of the day and night. Customers are billed using a number of different rate systems, some of which are outlined here.
Rate Types
A flat fee is a rate structure in which all customers pay the same sum regardless of how much water they use. Flat fees are the most basic cost structure and are no longer widely used. They usually don’t generate enough cash to keep the utility running and aren’t very good at encouraging water conservation.
Uniform Rate is a year-round structure with a constant per-unit price for all metered units of water utilized. It varies from a flat price in that it necessitates the use of a meter. Some utilities charge various rates to distinct user categories, such as charging one fee to residential homes and another rate to industrial customers. Because the consumer bill varies with water usage, constant block rates provide some stability for utilities and encourage conservation.
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.
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.
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 Pittsburgh, what is a livable wage?
You can calculate your recommended wage if you know what kind of lifestyle you want to live in Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh, the living wage is $16.23 per hour, which is the minimum wage required to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, and other necessities. Keep in mind that the living wage is based on a frugal lifestyle and does not include any additional expenses such as dining out or entertainment.
You can also check at Pittsburgh’s average pay index, which is $50,536 per year ($24.30 per hour). Keep in mind that the living wage, average pay, and suggested salary are all distinct figures. In Pittsburgh, the 30 percent rule for rent can be used to estimate your proposed compensation.
According to the 30 percent rule, you should not spend more than one-third of your gross income on rent to live comfortably. For example, if your monthly rent is close to the Pittsburgh median for a one-bedroom apartment at $975, your monthly wages should be at least $3,250 each month, or $39,00 annually.
How much does a gallon of water cost in Pennsylvania?
As of 2011, the majority of Pennsylvania residents paid between $5 and $8 per 1,000 gallons of water usage. Some communities, such as Pittsburg, charge all consumers a set rate of roughly $14 or $15, with the idea that you will use 1,000 gallons for that amount. Water providers charge $5 to $8 per 1,000 gallons of water used over the initial 1,000 gallons. As of 2011, the average Pennsylvania home paid roughly $40 for water and $40 for sewage. Some towns charge for both conveniences at the same time, while others charge for each separately.
What is the cost of electricity in Pittsburgh?
Updated on May 20, 2022 The average commercial power rate in Pittsburgh is $9.89/kWh (15 percent lower than the national average). The average home electricity tariff in Pittsburgh is 14.7 cents per kWh (1 percent higher than the national average).