AURORA — Residents who used the most water last summer and saw their bills increase by as much as 300 percent will get relief under a new water rate plan adopted Monday night.
The City Council gave preliminary approval to a rate structure that spreads costs more evenly across all users. It is to be finalized later this month.
But the new rates will mean folks with smaller lots who use less water will pay slightly more. “It’s probably not possible for us to come up with a water-rate system that pleases everyone in the community,” Councilman Larry Beer said. “It seems to me we have a good plan that is fair and equitable.”
Last year, the city increased fees to generate 12 percent more revenue to pay for the new Prairie Waters project, an $800 million water purification facility.
This year’s increase is also 12 percent.
Councilwoman Renie Peterson voted against the measure because “I feel the little users are subsidizing the high users,” she said.
Last year’s four-tier system is being replaced by three tiers.
In the new plan, customers in the first tier would pay $4.54 per 1,000 gallons used for the initial 20,000 gallons. From there, the charge is $5.17 per 1,000 gallons for the next 20,000 gallons and $6.46 for each 1,000 gallons after that.
City officials estimate that about 97 percent of customers will fall in the first two tiers.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
