Explanation of Water Charges
Water charges as of Jan. 1, 2013 include:
- A water service base fee based on water meter size (new)
- A water usage charge based on water consumption
The water service base fee is intended to cover costs unrelated to the volume of water needed to meet customer demand,
such as general administration, billing, accounting, customer service, etc.
Water Service Base Fees*
| Smaller than 1" |
$9/quarter |
| 1" |
$22.50/quarter |
| 1 1/2" (Residential) |
$45/quarter |
| 1 1/2" (Commercial) |
$15/month |
| 2" |
$24/month |
| 3" |
$48/month |
| 4" |
$75/month |
| 6" |
$150/month |
| 8" |
$240/month |
| 10" |
$345/month |
* For the cities of Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood and West Saint Paul.
All other customers pay 20 percent more.
Water Usage Charge*
Per billing unit (100 cubic feet or 748 gallons)
| Winter Rates |
$2.42
|
$2.29
|
|
Summer Rates
|
$2.52
|
$2.39
|
* For the cities of Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood and West Saint Paul.
All other customers pay 20 percent more.
Right of Way (ROW) Recovery Fees for City of Saint Paul Customers
Right of Way recovery fees were introduced by the city of Saint Paul in 2012
.
The utility collects these fees to reimburse the city for costs it incurs as a result of buried water infrastructure within the city Right of Way.
These fees remain unchanged in 2013.
Impact on a Typical Residential Water Customer
Typical water consumption for a SPRWS residential customer is 22 units (16,456 gallons ) per quarter.
The result of the combination of the new, water service base fee and the water usage charge would result in increased water charges of $6.41 per quarter/ $24.56 per year.
Consider the following comparison:
Water Charges in 2012: Typical residential customer using 22 units per quarter
| Winter Rate ($2.42/Unit x 22) |
$53.24
|
$53.24
|
|
|
|
| Summer Rate ($2.52/Unit x 22) |
|
|
$55.44
|
$55.44
|
|
| Total |
$53.24
|
$53.24
|
$55.44
|
$55.44
|
$217.36
|
| SAINT PAUL ONLY |
|
|
|
|
|
| ROW Recovery Fee |
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
|
| Total |
$57.74
|
$57.74
|
$59.94
|
$59.94
|
$235.36
|
Water Charges in 2013: Typical residential customer using 22 units per quarter
| Winter Rate ($2.29/Unit x 22) |
$50.38
|
$50.38
|
|
|
|
| Summer Rate ($2.39/Unit x 22) |
|
|
$52.58
|
$52.58
|
|
| Water Service Base Fee |
$9
|
$9
|
$9
|
$9
|
|
| Total |
$59.38
|
$59.38
|
$61.58
|
$61.58
|
$241.92
|
| SAINT PAUL ONLY |
|
|
|
|
|
| ROW Recovery Fee |
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
$4.50
|
|
| Total |
$63.88
|
$63.88
|
$66.08
|
$66.08
|
$259.92
|