|
.
|
 |
|
|
 |
Rates to change in March
Medford Water Commission (MWC) typically conducts analyses each year to determine whether any rate changes are needed. Doing this annually better assures that revenues keep pace with costs, and that rate increases can be kept small. However, due to MWC being in the process of migrating to new billing software over the last few years, and making rate changes is not advised either just prior to or for a reasonable period after such software changes, rate evaluations haven’t been conducted on our normal schedule since 2012.
Additionally, our rate analysis procedures are currently undergoing review by an independent consultant. The consultant’s findings and recommendations are anticipated this fall, and resulting rate changes expected to be implemented in early 2016. By then, it will have been nearly four years since our last rate adjustments were made.
Of course, the charges MWC pays for materials, power, etc. have continued to increase during this time, resulting in revenues not keeping up with costs. As a result, the Board of Water Commissioners recently determined that it was in the best interest of both MWC and its customers to adopt an interim rate increase of 5% now in order to lessen the potential for a more significant increase than normal being necessary in 2016.
The new rates will go into effect in March 2015, and will add approximately $0.48 to a monthly winter bill and $1.28 to a summer monthly bill for an average residence in Medford.
|
|
|
 |
|
