Englewood water board delays decision on higher rates for high-use customers
The proposals would add a higher residential rate above a selected monthly-use threshold and raise the rate for nonresidential customers using more than 400,000 gallons.
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Englewood’s Water and Sewer Board delayed a decision until November on proposed higher water rates for some high-use residential and nonresidential customers. The board approved no rate changes at its Oct. 13 meeting.
The residential proposal would add a third usage tier, with the higher rate starting after monthly use reaches 12,000, 15,000 or 18,000 gallons, depending on the option. The city’s rate-structure presentation lists corresponding proposed prices of $6.45, $7.10 or $7.75 per 1,000 gallons. The first 6,000 gallons would remain at $3.75 per 1,000 gallons, and the next tier at $4.30.
For nonresidential use above 400,000 gallons, staff proposed replacing the current declining rate of $2.64 per 1,000 gallons with a flat $4.30 per 1,000 gallons. The change would apply to high-volume commercial, industrial and institutional users. Staff said its model puts the cost of producing and delivering 1,000 gallons at $4.30 and that the current discount means high-volume nonresidential users pay less than that amount, with residential customers covering the difference.
Staff said outdoor irrigation is a major driver of residential summer water use and peak system demand. A board member moved to adopt the 12,000-gallon residential threshold and a flat rate for commercial customers, but the board voted to table the discussion until its November meeting. The proposed rates have not been adopted.