Commission of Public Works commissioners (Eugene Gibson, Jeff Howell and Perry Williams) approved an $82.2 million budget for 2015. The eight percent budget increase means CPW customers will see a five percent rate increase in water and two increases in sewer, explained as five percent for the base charge and seven percent for volume used.
The average water/sewer customer will see an increase of $2.79, based on an average of 6,000 gallons of waters used.
The complex formula, set on the base fee and volume usage, goes into effect Jan. 1 and will appear on customers’ February bills.
Traditionally, CPW announced its electric rate hike before the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency made its public in February for the 10 utilities it serves. However CPW, instead of passing on an 11 percent increase three years ago, remained at its announced four percent. “I think we’re still recovering from that,” Jeff Tuttle, GM since February, said.
|
|
|
2014 Budget |
|
2015 Budget |
|
% Variance |
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water |
|
$ 7,614,970 |
|
$7,677,044 |
|
0.8% |
|
Electric |
|
37,898,215 |
|
40,469,172 |
|
6.8% |
|
Natural Gas |
|
24,531,064 |
|
28,068,767 |
|
14.4% |
|
Sewer |
|
6,134,790 |
|
6,053,017 |
|
-1.3% |
|
Total |
|
$79,179,039 |
|
$82,268,000 |
|
8.0% |
• 2015 CPW rate schedule for average customer.
Water – 5 percent volume charge.
Water base charge – none.
Sewer base charge – 5 percent
Sewer usage charge – 7 percent.
Electricity – rate increase to be announced in February
Gas – no increase or decrease
CPW, with four utilities, must balance each plus increase fees for economic development.
Employees
• Merit-based raises, capped at 3 percent, for employees.
• Health care costs, discussed at $15 per employee per pay period tabled until provider increases go into effect.
Staffing
Randy Olson, engineer and planning manger, retires Dec. 31. Search is ongoing.
Matthew Brady has been hired as CPW’s first communications director.