Friday, March 29, 2024

Southlake Water Utilities Announces Utility Rate Changes to Take Effect October 2018

Water, sewer, garbage and recycling rate changes will go into effect on October 1, 2018, for all Southlake Water Utilities customers.  Residents will notice the increase on November bills.

Water Rate Change

In September this year, the Fort Worth City Council voted to increase its wholesale water costs. As a result, the increase will be passed on to Southlake customers. Southlake Water Utilities is a financially self-sustaining utility similar to electric and natural gas companies, where increased costs to the utility are passed on to consumers.

The City of Fort Worth is Southlake’s wholesale water provider.  Fort Worth’s pass-through rate increase amounts to 4.38%.

What does this mean?

For example, if you have a one -inch water meter and consume 26,640 gallons of water a month, with the rate increase your water bill will increase by $7.26.  This example is based on the average residential water consumption in Southlake.

Sewer Rate Change

In August of this year, the Trinity River Authority (TRA) Board of Directors voted to approve rate increases for sewer treatment at both Denton Creek and Central Regional wastewater plants. As a result, Southlake Water Utilities will be passing the 11% increase on to Southlake customers. The Trinity River Authority supplies sewer treatment to 98% of Tarrant County, including, Southlake.

The maximum residential sewer charge Southlake customers will see is $68.48 per month. This will also take effect on October 1, 2018, and the increase will show on the November billing statements.

Refuse Rate Change

In August, City Council approved a new five-year renewal of the contract with Republic Waste Services of Texas, Ltd. for waste and recycling services in Southlake. Under the new the contract renewal, residential collections will increase by $1.03 on October 1, 2018. The trash rate will increase annually by three percent and the recycling rates will be adjusted annually based on processing costs. Commercial collections and roll-off rates will increase by three percent on October 1 and three percent annually under the contract renewal.

You may view all of the above rate changes by visiting the Southlake Water Utilities webpage, then click the Water & Sewer Rates button.

Reminder, the effective date of increase for Southlake customers will begin October 1, 2018. Customers will see the changes reflected on their November bill.