Portlanders brace for another water rate hike
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Turning on the tap — or watering your plants or flushing the toilet — is likely going to cost more soon as the Portland Water Bureau appears set to raise rates again.
Why it matters: You might want to stick to the "drought tolerant" section of the nursery from now on.
Driving the news: City Council will vote Wednesday on the biggest hike in water and sewer rates — roughly 6.34% — since 2011 as the city contends with aging infrastructure and ballooning costs for construction projects.
- Rates have gone up every year, to varying degrees, since 2011, Portland Water Bureau spokesperson Brandon Zero told Axios.
What they're saying: Portlanders took to social media and message boards over the last week to lament the rising costs of living in the city, with many noting water service is just one of several utilities that seem to get more expensive every year.
- "We recognize that our customers are facing higher costs of living and that any utility rate increase can be a hardship," Zero said in a written statement.
Zoom in: There are a number of factors contributing to the proposed price hike.
- The city's pipes are old — a city auditor's report last month classified the state of Portland's infrastructure as a "crisis" — and replacing them is expensive.
- The water bureau has undertaken a number of costly upgrades to its system, including the Bull Run Filtration Project, which was originally budgeted for $500 million, but estimates now top $2 billion.
By the numbers: The proposed 6.34% increase would raise the average household's quarterly bill by about $30, from $452.22 to $480.87.
- There doesn't appear to be any relief in our future, either. Rates are also estimated to go up by between 5.4% and 6.6% for each of the next four years.
Zoom out: Portland's combined water and sewer rates are comparable to other large cities.
- Bellevue and Seattle pay significantly more, with monthly bills nearing $200.
- But Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Missouri and Cincinnati, Ohio all pay less, with monthly bills between $100 and $130, per stats from the water bureau.
- And all cities include other charges and fees — in Portland that includes a base fee for meter reading, billing and collection along with stormwater management charges and money toward the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup.
Yes, but: The Water Bureau offers discounts for low-income residents that can cut bills between 5% and 80%.
What's next: If approved, the new rates would go into effect July 1.