Evansville OKs sewer rate hike
Evansville wastewater rate increases
The Evansville City Council on Tuesday approved these sewer rate increases:
Existing rate for a residential user
$3.75 per month fixed rate
$2.95 per thousand gallons of water variable rate
New rate as of Jan. 1 for a residential user
$5.52 per month fixed rate
$4.65 per thousand gallons of water variable rate
EVANSVILLE — The Evansville City Council unanimously approved a plan to raise sewer rates more than 55 percent Tuesday, but the plan is structured to encourage users to conserve water and not hit single-person households as hard with minimal usage, President Mason Braunschweig said.
The plan provides examples for two "average" residential users: A 30,000-gallon-a-year user, such as grandma living alone, will see an increase from $134 to $206 a year. A 60,000-gallon-a-year user, such as a family with two kids, will seen an increase from $220 to $345 a year.
Many council members serve on the finance or public works committees, and were aware of the plan before it came before the full council.
The public works committee has discussed the increases at its last couple meetings, sending an informal recommendation to the finance committee last month after choosing between other options, Braunschweig said.
The rates were structured to encourage water conservation, Braunschweig said. It also won't financially break a single person on a fixed income, for example, because the fixed rate increase is "relatively nominal," he said.
The increases will go into effect Jan. 1 and are a result of the improvement project at the wastewater treatment facility on Water Street. C.D. Smith Construction of Fond du Lac started construction Aug. 31 on the $7.2 million project, which is scheduled to be done by the end of 2010.
The city will receive $4.08 million in federal stimulus money for the project.
The planned increase is subject to a review by the state Department of Natural Resources.
Sep 11, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.
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"The rates were structured to encourage water conservation, Braunschweig said. It also won't financially break a single person on a fixed income, for example, because the fixed rate increase is "relatively nominal," he said."
Evill residents can forward thier new bills to the council members who obviously have no contact with the financial situation in the real world. They feel a 55% increase is "nominal" in life. It will break many single people and those on fixed incomes very fast!!!
This rate increase raises (literally) a question. When the E.F.D. responds to a fire in the city or fire district and uses city water,(from hydrant or in thier tanker) who gets billed??
The property owner(s) or is this "complimentary"???? Might it be an extra "gift" one gets for the $500 per apperance fee E.F.D. charges most of thier "customers"??
Since waste water rates are based on raw water useage, who pays for this??
Sep 10, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.
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Shari- I called EPL and they said that the power cost adjustment was when the power demand exceeded supply and Evansville had to purchase power. When the cost is high, that means EPL had to purchase electricity from Illinois. When you get a credit, power cost is low. They told me that power cost adjustment is most often in summer months.
Sep 10, 2009 at 4:01 p.m.
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Another way to make it harder for people that are barely scraping by.
Can someone explain to me what a "power cost adjustment" is that is listed on the bills from Evansville Water & Light? On my previous months bill I was charged almost $50 for the "power cost adjustment" and on my most recent bill that I received yesterday, I was given a credit of $2.20 for the "power cost adjustment"
Just wondering if anybody knows exactly what this adjustment is for???
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:23 a.m.
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Another reason to MOVE OUT OF EVANSVILLE.
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