Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, November 12, 2012
(BEDFORD) - A month ago, Bedford officials approved a new stormwater fee plus increases in water and sewer rates.
Now those rates are being passed on to other communities.
Utilities that buy water from Bedford are seeing an increase and have to pass it along to customers.
According to East Lawrence Water Authority officials, the changes in Bedford mean a 32 percent increase in the total cost of water bought by the water authority.
That amounts to about $139,900 a year.
On Friday East Lawrence announced it will seek a rate increase of 79 cents per 1,000 gallons. Assuming an average residential water bill is for 4,000 gallons of water, the increase will amount to $3.16 per month, according to East Lawrence's calculations. Bills will vary depending upon the amount of water used.
The request must be approved by the Indiana Regulatory Commission before it can go into effect. But if approved, the increase will be applied to the "next practical consumption period" after the state OK.
Bedford residents will see an average water and sewer bill for a family of four will rise from $55.28 per month to $72.64 per month, estimated Mayor Shawna Girgis.
The current monthly water rate (5,000 gallons) of $22.59 would increase to $29.83 and the sewer rate would rise from $32.69 to $42.81. The stormwater fee would be $5.
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