Why Are Rates Increasing?

What are the New Water & Wastewater Rates?

How does this affect the average customer?

What can I do to reduce their water bill?

Will Storm Water rates go up?

Does lawn watering cost more?

When did Charlotte start the tiered structure to encourage water conservation?

What are the changes in 2008?

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Why Are Rates Increasing?

On May 1, 2008, water and sewer rates will increase for customers of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities by about 14.96 percent.  The new rates will decrease slightly (about 1 percent) after July 1, 2008.

Rate increases are projected annually to support a growing and aging water and wastewater system. This rate increase is higher than our typical increase as a result of the severe drought our community is experiencing.

In fact, this drought is the most severe on record and has required citizens to reduce water usage to ensure future availability for essential needs. Customers have done an outstanding job to conserve and protect the water supply, yet the reduction in water use over time has led to a significant reduction in revenues needed to operate the public, non-profit utility. Although revenues have declined due to drought and necessary water use restrictions, we must continue to treat water and wastewater every day for more than 750,000 customers, maintain more than 7,700 miles of pipe and pay debt on capital projects needed to meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Your continued conservation efforts and understanding of the need for these increases is appreciated.  If you have questions or need more information, please dial 311 or 704-336-7600.

New Water Rates

All customers pay a flat monthly charge of $1.80 ($0.06 per day) for water service. In addition, residential customers pay a usage charge per Ccf*, depending on the amount of water used during the monthly billing cycle. Multi-family (apartment) customers also pay a usage charge per Ccf, depending on the amount of water used per unit during the monthly billing cycle.

*1 Ccf =100 cubic feet or 748 gallons of water.

Lawn meter and swimming pool meter customers pay Tier 3 or Tier 4 rates, depending on the amount of water used.

Commercial customers pay a usage charge of $1.94 per Ccf of water used.

New Sewer Rates               back to top

All customers pay a flat monthly charge of $1.80 ($0.06 per day) for sewer service, plus a usage charge to cover the cost of wastewater collection and treatment.

Effective May 1, the sewer usage rate will be $3.82 per Ccf of metered water usage. The usage rate will decrease slightly on July 1, to $3.78.

Residential customers do not pay for sewer usage beyond 24 Ccf of water usage. Apartment complexes and other multi-unit customers with a 'master' meter do not pay for sewer usage beyond 11 Ccf of water usage per each unit. Customers with irrigation meter service do not pay sewer charges.

How does this affect the average customer?

The average customer uses 8 Ccfs (or 5,984 gallons) of water. 

Before May 1, 2008 =                 $40.00

After May 1, 2008 =                   $45.96.

After July 1, 2008 =                    $45.60.

If you use less or more water than this, please click here to see other examples.

What can I do to reduce their water bill?       back to top

The water rates encourage water conservation. Using only 6 Ccfs (winter-time average) instead of 8 Ccfs (annual average user) in a month can reduce your overall water and wastewater bill.

  4 Ccf (2,992 gallons) =   $24.24

  6 Ccfs (4,488 gallons) = $34.92

  8 Ccfs (5,984 gallons) = $45.60

10 Ccf (7,480 gallons) =   $58.28

* using July 1, 2008 rates

Will Storm Water rates go up?

Please check http://stormwater.charmeck.org for more information.

Does lawn watering cost more?      back to top

Irrigations meter usage begins at Tier 3 so 1 – 16 Ccfs are $2.58 (and $2.56 starting July 1, 2008).  Any Ccfs used over 16 are $5.11 ($5.05 starting July 1, 2008).

When did Charlotte start the tiered structure to encourage water conservation?

What are the changes in 2008?           back to top

Charlotte implemented a tiered rate structure for residential and irrigation customers in 1994 that was designed to encourage conservation and to recover the additional costs associated with meeting excess demand.  The rate structure was revised in 2001 and 2008. 

The 2008 revisions are needed to:

*   Address the impact of the current, historic drought

*   Respond to existing and projected revenue shortfalls under the current rates

*   Satisfy bond covenants under the current rates

*   Address reduction in customer water usage and declining housing starts

The changes include:

*   Revised rate structure from 3 tiers to 4 tiers

*   Tier ranges based on consumption data and revenue needs (see chart below)

*   Higher increases in the upper tiers to encourage continued conservation and minimize rate increases in the lower tiers

*   Increase in sewer cap from 18 to 24 ccf

*   Rate shift for irrigation meters and swimming pools from beginning at tier 1 to beginning at the proposed tier 3

*   Rate shift for wholesale customers from the tier 2 to proposed tier 3

*   Sewer only customers bill based on an average of 8 ccf (currently 11 ccf)