Another big hike eyed in Naperville water bills
Fresh off a 29 percent increase in their water bills, Naperville residents are likely to see another 46 percent increase by 2015.
According to the rate increase proposal, tucked in the city council’s consent agenda for Tuesday night’s meetings, the average Naperville household using 8,000 gallons per month, can expect to see their monthly combined water and sewer bill jump from approximately $62.98 this year to $92.01 in 2015.
If approved, the increase will come in four annual stages, with an 11.5 percent increase next year, followed by annual increases of 9.61, 9.33 and 9.34 percent.
More immediately, the proposed rates will increase the average residential customer’s bill by $7.24 per month next year.
Most of the increase is directly related to the increases in the wholesale water rates charged by Chicago to the DuPage Water Commission, which supplies Lake Michigan water to Naperville and numerous municipalities.
The 29 percent water rate increase that went into effect June 1 envisioned annual rate increases of 3 percent for the next four years.
The rate increases are expected to eliminate the utility’s $8.6 million operating deficit, provide sufficient revenues to maintain operations and the $8.5 million annual capital improvement program.
In October, the DuPage Water Commission members approved a four year rate plan to increase their rates 115 percent during the next four years beginning Jan. 1.
Currently the utility does not have the financial reserves to absorb or delay passing through the wholesale water rate increases to the city’s residents.
Naperville City Council members meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Naperville Municipal Center.