Washington Water is committed to ensuring our customers continue to have a reliable supply of safe, high-quality water, and we have made a number of upgrades to the water system infrastructure to do so. On July 2, 2018, we submitted a rate filing with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) requesting a 13.8% revenue increase to cover the cost of these upgrades.
We know that rate increases are never welcome, and we are working hard to operate as efficiently as possible to keep costs down, while making sure the water meets all water quality standards and is available anytime customers and firefighters need it.
Does this mean my bill will be going up by 13.8%?
No. The percentage increase in the typical residential customer’s bill will be lower than 13.8%. The actual increase in your bill will depend on your water usage.
How much of an increase should I expect?
If the rate increase is approved as filed, the typical residential customer would see a $7.72 increase on their monthly bill (about $0.26 per day).
What kind of upgrades would this increase cover?
A variety of upgrades has been requested. For example:
- Pump replacements
- New wells
- Meter replacements
- Main replacements
Is Washington Water doing anything to lower costs?
We have implemented a number of cost saving measures, including:
- Encouraging customers to enroll in automatic payments
- Reducing transmission and distribution expense
- Reducing benefits expense
- Streamlining payroll timesheets
When will the increase begin?
The increase was originally scheduled to become effective on August 1, 2018. However, the UTC put the effective date on hold so that they would have time to complete their review. After the review is complete, UTC staff will make a recommendation to Commission of level at which rates should be set. Rates will not become effective until approved by UTC.
Might the final rate be higher or lower than what was requested?
The UTC can approve rates different than what the company requested, but they will not be higher than what was requested.
Where can I get more information?
Information on the filing status, the final rates, and the effective date will be posted on this web site as it becomes available.