Utility Rates Increase Tomorrow
Effective July 1, customers of the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will see changes in their utility rates. Rate increases in natural gas, water, wastewater, as well as adjustments in water and wastewater connection fees were adopted by Richmond City Council on May 23. From City DPU press release:
Effective July 1, 2011, customers of the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will see changes in their utility rates. Rate increases in natural gas, water, wastewater as well as adjustments in water and wastewater connection fees were adopted by Richmond City Council on May 23, 2011. There were no rate changes in Stormwater Utility fees.
These rate changes will address increases in unfunded mandates from the state and federal government for infrastructure improvements especially for the Chesapeake Bay clean up, and increased costs for power and chemicals used in water treatment. “DPU works hard to provide superior utility service and create exceptional value while keeping rates as affordable as possible. Utility fee increases are proposed when necessary as a way to continue to improve the reliability of Richmond’s underground infrastructure, provide service maintenance levels for all five utilities and continue compliance with existing and new state and federal regulations for safe, clean water, as well as gas and street light products and services,” said DPU Director Bob Steidel.
The average monthly residential increases that customers will see beginning July 1, 2011, are approximately $1.30 for natural gas distribution, $0.65 for water, and $1.84 for wastewater. Water and wastewater connection fees for new development and redevelopment will increase by 20 percent. These fees have not changed since 2008 and are being collected to recover DPU’s costs for safe and compliant construction. This comes as a result of DPU experiencing higher costs in pavement repair, materials, and equipment in the four years since these costs were last compiled.
Rate information can be found on the Utility Rates page at www.RichmondGov.com/DPU.DPU offers a number of programs and initiatives to help customers control or assist with their utility bills:
• Natural Gas rebates – Make your home more energy efficient, and trim your energy bills in the process. Visit the Natural Gas page at www.richmondgov.com/DPU for more information.
• Equal Monthly Payment Program – Stabilize your utility bill by spreading your monthly payments evenly over 12 months. For more information, call 646-7000 or 311.
-more-
• MetroCare Program – Beginning Dec. 15, residents in DPU’s service territory may apply for funds through the City’s MetroCare Program, which provides funds to families and individuals who are having trouble paying their primary heating bills due to a financial difficulty or other special hardship. For more information, call 646-7000 or 311.
• Stormwater Utility residential and commercial credits. For more information visit the Stormwater Utility page at www.Richmondgov.com/DPU.
• Wastewater charges during non-winter months (March – November) are billed using the lower of actual water usage or average winter usage.
• EPA Water Sense Program. For more information visit www.epa.gov/WaterSense.
• Earth Aid helps households track their actual energy and water consumption on the internet and learn how to be more energy efficient. Households earn rewards points each month for saving energy and water and then they can redeem these points for discounts and offers at a variety of local Richmond businesses. Residents can find more information on the Sustainability page at www.Richmondgov.com.
• The City’s Social Services Department offers heating and cooling assistance. For more information or to discuss eligibility requirements, call 646-7046.
Going back to that Windfall…..
“DPU works hard to provide superior utility service and create exceptional value”
Flat out lies I say! They do NOT work hard. They do NOT provide superior service. And they do NOT create exception value! Obviously, whoever wrote this load of crap has never called DPU’s call center. Worthless!!!!
Unbelievably, the city has raised the minimum water/sewer bill to $47.03. This is the base amount you pay even if you use no water. This is probably the highest minimum water/sewer bill in the nation.
So no rewarding of conservation. How about the maximums? Are there still discounts in place for entities with larger volume use? How about what Chesterfield is paying the City for water and how much do their residents pay?
Seems like old times….
Still a city discount for using a high volume of water:
1-100 hundred cubic feet (ccf) – $1.595
101-2000 ccf – $1.47
2000 + ccf – $1.44
Those using the least amount of water are subsidizing those who are using the most water.
While it’s slightly different, don’t forget the $40+ stormwater management fee. Haven’t seen any new gutters etc. installed with those funds.
Freakin A’. Awesome. We reward people who use to the extreme and punish those who conserve. Is anyone of any intelligence running this town?
If these regressive water rates were changed, it would put at least $20 or so EVERY MONTH in every household in Richmond, while encouraging conservation.
All these nonprofits and churches wring their hands about poverty and inequality, yet they will not speak up on this water rates issue?
We truly live in a former capital of slavery.
Don’t forget, the City sells water to the surrounding counties who in turn sell the water for lesser minimum charges to their citizens.
Ironically, as I was reading the item detailing this in the newspaper yesterday morning, my husband was outside – washing the car! We have made every effort to conserve water, and he used very little, really, but after reading about the discounts for extreme usage, I should have encouraged him to leave the hose running while he scrubbed!