The Phoenix Water Services Department is hosting a series of meetings over the next several weeks to allow the public to comment on proposed rate increases for water and wastewater services.
The proposed plan would increase water rates 6.5% in October 2023, another 6.5% in March 2024, and 13% in March 2025. Wastewater rates and the stormwater excise tax rate would also increase.
Water Services Department director Troy Hayes told KJZZ News the proposed changes come as inflation drives up operating costs.
“The cost of the chemicals associated with our treatment processes have gone up 136% over the past few years, the cost of buying raw water either from the Central Arizona Project or the Salt River Project has gone up, electricity, personnel costs,” Hayes said.
But Hayes said Phoenix also wants to rework billing structures to incentivize water conservation amid the Southwest's historic drought. The proposed plan would reduce the number of gallons allowed per customer covered by their bill's base fee.
“In our analysis of single-family residential homes, we think there’s a lot of overwatering that’s being done outside," Hayes said. “We want to kind of balance affordability and the ability to have water, but we do want to send some sort of signal that if you use more water, your bill changes."
Meetings for the general public about the proposed rate hikes will be held:
- Thursday, May 4, 6 p.m. at Paradise Valley Community Center.
- Tuesday, May 9, 6 p.m. at Devonshire Community Center.
- Monday, May 15, 6 p.m. in Spanish online.
- Tuesday, May 23, 6 p.m. at Maryvale Community Center.
- Thursday, May 25, 6 p.m. at South Mountain Community Center.
- Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m. at Burton Barr Central Library.
Customers can also submit comments online.
The Phoenix City Council will have to approve the plan. The council is scheduled to vote on it in late June.
