Customers of Greer Commission of Public Works (CPW) will pay about $3 more per month for water and sewer services in 2016.
Commissioners approved a $78.57 million operating budget for 2016. It represents a 1.7 decrease from the $82.2 million that ends fiscal year 2015 on Dec. 31. Reductions in the cost of purchasing natural gas factored in the overall reduced budget.
No increase in electrical rates, from the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency, is expected, according to CPW officials.
The three-member board – chairman Jeff Howell and commissioners Eugene Gibson and Perry Williams – approved a 4.94 percent rate increase, or $2.72 monthly average per residential customer using both water and sewer services, based on a 6,000 gallon usage.
The increases take effect Jan. 1 and will appear on customers’ February bills. (See example below).
Water volume rates will increase 5 percent and sewer usage increases 7 percent for volumetric increase and five percent for facility charge. Those increases reflect year two of a five-year rate adjustment plan approved by commissioners that began in 2015. CPW noted the calculations are based on a presumptive use of 6,000 gallons of water per month for customers with a ¾-inch meter.
Commissioners approved an eight percent budget increase for 2015 with a five percent rate increase for water and the two increases for sewer volume and facility charge. The average increase this year was $2.79 based on 6,000 gallons of water used.
Typical monthly CPW bill (water and wastewater)
| Avg. monthly flow (gallons) |
|
2015 |
|
2016
|
|
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
6,000 |
|
|
0-4,000 gallons |
|
4,000 |
|
4,000 |
|
|
Over 4,000 gallons |
|
2,000 |
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly water bill inside city |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly base charge |
|
$9.84 |
|
$9.84 |
|
|
0-4,000 gallons |
|
$5.12 |
|
$5.36 |
|
|
Over 4,000 gallons |
|
$3.12 |
|
$3.26 |
|
|
Total |
|
$18.08 |
|
$18.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly wastewater bill - inside city |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monthly base charge |
|
$12.81 |
|
$13.45 |
|
|
Volumetric charge |
|
$24.14 |
|
$25.84 |
|
|
Total |
|
$36.95 |
|
$39.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combined utility bill |
|
$55.03 |
|
$57.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase from 2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount |
|
|
|
$2.72 |
|
|
Percentage |
|
|
|
4.94% |
|
Water volumetric rate (inside city limits)
$1.34 per 1,000 gallons of water used — up to 4,000 gallons (previously $1.28).
$1.63 per 1,000 gallons of water used — for use over 4,000 gallons (previously $1.56)
Water volumetric rate (outside city limits)
$2.01 per 1,000 gallons of water used — up to 4,000 gallons (previously $1.92)
$2.67 per 1,000 gallons of water used — for use over 4,000 gallons (previously $2.56)
Sewer rates and charges (inside city limits)
$4.306 per 1,000 gallons of water used (previously $4.024)
Facility charge: $13.45 (previously $12.81)
Sewer rates and charges (outside city limits)
$5.717 per 1,000 gallons of water used (previously $5.343)
Facility charge: $18.70 (previously $17.81)
• Information courtesy of Greer CPW.