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- water rate
Friday, April 19, 2024
Southlake Water Utilities would like to inform Southlake residents of a rate increase for both water and sewer rates will be in effect November 1st, 2016 and December 1st, 2016 respectively.
Water Rate Increase
In August of this year, the Fort Worth City Council once again voted to increase its wholesale water costs. As a result, the City of Southlake is obligated to increase its water rate for Southlake customers. This is due to the fact that Southlake is a city customer to the City of Fort Worth.
In July, the City of Fort Worth’s Water Department conducted their annual Cost of Service and Rate Study and are estimating Southlake expenses at approximately $9.5 million, which equates to a 2.46% increase. As a result of this study, Southlake Water Utilities will pass through this rate increase to Southlake customers. The effective date of increase for Southlake customers will begin for services beginning November 1st, 2016, but customers will not see the higher rate until their December bill.
As has been the trend for the past several years, this increase is not unexpected; however, this year’s increase is quite a bit smaller than the increases in past years. Due to the fact that our systems are connected, when Fort Worth experiences an increase in rates from the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD), Southlake will as well. Please visit the Southlake Water Utilities page for links to the Fort Worth and TRWD sites.
Sewer Rate Increase
In July of this year, the Trinity River Authority (TRA) Board of Directors once again voted again to approve rate increases for sewer treatment at both Denton Creek and Central Regional wastewater plants. As a result, Southlake Water Utilities will be increasing sewer rate for Southlake customers by 5%. The Trinity River Authority supplies sewer treatment to 98% of Tarrant County, including, Southlake.
Southlake utility customers have been paying the same sewer rates since 2002. Since then the costs to operate and treat sewer have continued to increase over the years, these increases have necessitated a pass through sewer rate increase to Southlake customers. This will take effect on December 1st, 2016, and the increase will show on the January billing statements. You may view all of our rates by visiting the Southlake Water Utilities page, then click on Customer Care box, and then click on the Water & Sewer Rates link to the left.
For the second year in a row the City of Fort Worth has increased wholesale water charges. Representatives of the Tarrant Regional Water District and the City of Fort Worth Water Department have indicated that a continuation of this trend should be expected.
An article posted on August 6, 2014 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram referenced the increase and quoted officials from the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant Regional Water District, stating that the drought might intensify. Due to the cost of raw water being the major driver for water rates, they are expected to continue to increase—and double in the next 10 years. The rate increase is also directly related to the increased demand and use of water resources by all cities served by the Tarrant Regional Water District. Permanent, mandatory Stage 1 water restrictions are in effect to encourage consumers to conserve this natural resource.
The impact on Southlake customers will be 7.825% pass through increase to their water rates. This means an average residential consumer with a 1” water meter will experience approximately a $9.71 monthly increase. The same size meter for an average commercial consumer will reflect about $13.16 added to the monthly bill. Of course, exact consumption will determine the dollar amount of the increase. The charts below provide a more detailed look at the averages.
|
Residential Water Rates |
|||||
|
1″ Meter |
Gallons |
Current Rate |
7.825% |
Net Increase |
|
|
0 – 2000 |
$31.75 |
$34.05 |
$2.30 |
||
|
2,001 – 10,000 |
$3.73 |
$4.00 |
$0.27 |
||
|
10,001 – 25,000 |
$4.32 |
$4.63 |
$0.31 |
||
|
25,001 – 40,000 |
$4.61 |
$4.94 |
$0.33 |
||
|
40,001 + |
$5.38 |
$5.77 |
$0.39 |
||
|
Residential Avg |
26,640 |
$133.87 |
$9.71 |
||
|
Commercial Water Rates |
|||||
|
1″ Meters |
Gallons |
Current Rate |
7.825% Increase |
Net Increase |
|
|
0 – 3,000 |
$49.93 |
$53.55 |
$3.62 |
||
|
3,001 – 10,000 |
$3.73 |
$4.00 |
$0.27 |
||
|
10,001 – 25,000 |
$4.32 |
$4.63 |
$0.31 |
||
|
25,001 – 40,000 |
$4.61 |
$4.94 |
$0.33 |
||
|
40,001 + |
$5.38 |
$5.77 |
$0.39 |
||
|
Commercial Avg |
33,840 |
$181.52 |
$13.16 |
This information is also posted on our City website and the City will engage a number of communication mediums to inform our residents and customers of the impact to their bills.
For more information about the methodology Fort Worth used to calculate the increase, please visit their website by clicking on this link to the Fort Worth Water Department.