EWEB To Hold First of Two Public Hearings on Proposed 2024 Budget and Prices
Earlier this year, EWEB kicked off a multi-month planning process that will culminate in December with the adoption of a 2024 budget and rates for electric and water customers.
The total proposed electric and water utility budget for 2024 is $471.5 million, a decrease of 0.4% or $2.1 million.
The overall budget reduction underscores EWEB’s commitment to controlling costs and operating as efficiently as possible. Even as we deal with a bubble of aging infrastructure that requires massive investment, we are finding ways to manage expenses responsibly and leverage prudent financial practices.
Despite a slight decrease in the overall budget, there is a proposed increase in customer rates in 2024 due to a greater portion of funding for large infrastructure projects coming from rates rather than borrowing, compared to 2023.
At the Nov. 7 Board of Commissioners meeting, EWEB staff will present a proposed budget that includes the following residential rate increases, which are necessary to support utility operations and make needed infrastructure investments:
ELECTRIC
- Basic charge: Increase $1.50 per month
- Usage charge: Increase less than 1 cent per kilowatt hour
WATER*
- Basic charge: Increase $1.85 per month
- Usage charge: Increase approximately 14 cents per 1,000 gallons
*Inside City limits based on 9,000 gallons average usage. Excludes wholesale customers and elevation pumping charges.
If approved, beginning in February 2024 the average household would pay around $14 more per month, or 48 cents per day, for electricity and water combined. This is based on using 9,000 gallons of water and 1,600 kWh of electricity; actual bill changes may be lower or higher depending on actual usage.
Nov. 7 is the first of two public hearings on the 2024 proposed Electric and Water Utility budgets and price proposals. To watch the Board meeting, or to learn how to provide public comment, visit EWEB.org/Board. At the Dec. 5 Board meeting, after a second public hearing, Management will request approval of the proposed 2024 Budgets and prices.
Your rates keep the lights on and the water flowing
As a customer-owned utility, EWEB does not operate to earn a profit or to serve the investment needs of stockholders. That means that unlike an investor-owned utility, there are no profit margins or shareholder dividends built into your EWEB rates. Everyone in the community is a co-owner of $1.3 billion of assets that deliver clean, safe, and reliable power and drinking water.
Like power and water utilities around the country, most of our community’s electric and water infrastructure was built in the 1960s and 70s, is reaching end of life, and needs investment to continue providing safe and reliable power and water.
As an EWEB customer, you own and help fund that infrastructure. When you pay your EWEB bill, you’re not just paying for the electricity and water you used, you are investing in the health, safety, livability, and economic future of your community.
