Higher water rate, new billing practice coming to Columbia
Columbia utility customers will soon pay a higher rate for water use.
The Columbia City Council approved the changes on Monday night in a 4-3 vote. The change ups the base rate for customers slightly, with many residential customers set to pay $10 a month for the base rate, an increase of 25 cents.
The major change lies in the way Columbia Water & Light will charge for usage during the summer, when use is at its highest. Utility customers will fall into one of three tiers of payment, based on their average use of water during the winter months. Customers on the low end would pay $2.86 for every 100 cubic feet of water used, while the largest water consumers will pay $6.02.
Department leaders said the changes were needed to help raise revenue by 4 percent in order to pay for bonds voters approved last August. Director Tad Johnsen told the council that the new rate structure would more accurately charge people that are driving water usage up in the city, such as people watering lawns.
Council members criticized the department for not marketing the plan to voters prior to the election. Fourth Ward Councilman Ian Thomas, who voted against it, said he liked the tiered system, but that information should have been available prior to the August election.
“The fact that this differential rate impact was not advertised at the time people voted in August is a huge problem, as well, for trust in our government,” Thomas said.
Mayor Brian Treece and Fifth Ward Councilman Matt Pitzer also voted against the plan.
Second Ward Councilman Michael Trapp said he liked the plan since it encouraged heavy water users, such as lawn irrigators, to consider conserving water.
Some residents raised concerns that the tiered system would disproportionately hurt community gardens due to their high water usage. City staff said the legal department was still working on a specific rate structure for community gardens. The city would need to define what a community garden is in order for groups to know if they qualify.
