- tflach@thestate.com
Water and sewer rates are going up for about 65,000 homes and businesses as municipalities and other agencies make improvements described as necessary to handle development over the next generation."
The increases add as little as a dollar and as much as $7 to the typical residential bill each month — more for businesses.
Staying ahead of growth is vital to avert a crippling development freeze that lack of utility service would cause, officials said.
“We need to have inventory on the shelf,” said Steve Mann, general manager of the Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission. “In this business, you can’t wait until a customer comes in to buy it to use.”
The bill for the improvements is coming due simultaneously in several areas, since many of the projects are partnerships.
.....
Unlike some other utility rate hikes, those adopted by municipalities don’t go to the state Public Service Commission for review.
A larger share of the increases tends to fall on residents and businesses outside communities.
That angers homeowners in outlying neighborhoods, who claim they are gouged to keep utility bills lower for those who vote for local officials who set the rates.
Municipal leaders counter that it costs more to run lines and build plants to serve outlying areas.
Each community relies on consultants to design rate plans reflecting the cost of local service instead of setting them by whim.
Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/07/1320729/lexington-county-water-sewer-bills.html#ixzz0qBso1MwM
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