Water and Sanitary Sewer Rate Increase

At Village of Ashwaubenon “Ashwaubenon” October 8, 2024 Village Board Meeting current and future Water and Sewer Rates were reviewed and discussed in detail. Previous to this meeting, the Green Bay Water Utility and Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District (NEW Water) presented their approved rate increases to Ashwaubenon. Those increases will affect the Ashwaubenon Water and Sewer Utility.   

Ashwaubenon purchases drinking water from the Green Bay Utility Water. Effective August 1, 2024, Green Bay Water Utility increased their rates by 17% resulting in these rates being passed on to Ashwaubenon. In an effort to stay fiscally responsible and prepare for future maintenance and replacement projects, Ashwaubenon is working with the Public Service Commission (PSC), regulating agency for the Water Utility, in applying for a Purchased Water Clause Adjustment. If this Application is approved, the Ashwaubenon Water Rates will be increased by $0.43/1,000 gallons. The effective date of this increase is unknown but is anticipated to occur from the end of the year 2024 to early 2025. An example of how your utility bill will be impacted can be seen below.

Ashwaubenon sends its wastewater (sewage) to Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District (NEW Water). Effective annually, NEW Water will increase their rates by 7%, these rates are then passed on to Ashwaubenon. Ashwaubenon in an effort to stay fiscally responsible and ensure that operating expenses do not exceed revenues that are generated, had to look at its rates in greater detail. Ashwaubenon will be looking to increase rates by 8% annually to adjust for NEW Water charges and upcoming Capital Improvement Project costs. The effective date of this increase is January 1, 2025. An example of how your utility bill will be impacted can be seen below.

What Does This Mean for My Quarterly Utility Bill?

A standard utility bill from the Village of Ashwaubenon has three sections, a water utility cost, a sewer utility cost, and a storm water utility cost (refer to Stormwater Utility rate information on the Village website. Added together, these three costs in total are your utility bill. As such, a certain percentage increase in one of the three utility rates does not correspond to that percentage increase over your entire bill.

Let’s take a look at an example of a residential utility bill in the Village of Ashwaubenon with the current utility rates and the proposed utility rates beginning January 1, 2025.

A standard utility bill from the Village of Ashwaubenon has three sections, a water utility cost, a sewer utility cost, and a storm water utility cost. Added together, these three costs in total are your utility bill. As such, a certain percentage increase in one of the three utility rates does not correspond to that percentage increase over your entire bill.

Let’s take a look at an example of a residential utility bill in the Village of Ashwaubenon with the current utility rates and the proposed utility following January 1, 2025.

Changes in the bill are colored red

Under the proposed utility rate increases, a total utility bill for one quarter (3 months) would include: 

• 5/8" water meter charge of $24.81
• 5/8" sewer service charge of $24.03
• Public Fire Protection change of $9.69
• A water volume charge of 15,000 gallons at $5.13/1,000 gallons = $76.95
• A sewer volume charge of 15,000 gallons at $6.62/1,000 gallons = $99.31
• A storm utility charge of $18.75 (with 1.1 ERU)
  
  Proposed Total Bill: $255.41

According to the new rate structure, the quarterly bill for the average residential customer served by the Village Utilities (using approximately 15,000 gallons per quarter) will increase by $22.46 after the final phase of implementation.

Current Bill Example

New Bill Example

Water Volume Charge - Proposed TBD
First 100,000 gallons used  each quarter - $5.13 Per 1,000 gallons
Next 300,000 gallons used each quarter - $4.98 Per 1,000 gallons
Over 400,000 gallons used each quarter - $4.88 Per 1,000 gallons

Sewer Volume Charge - Effective January 1, 2025
Non-Restaurant Rate - $6.62 per 1,000 gallons
Restaurant Rate - $7.58 per 1,000 gallons

Storm Water Rate per ERU (Equivalent Runoff Unit) - Effective January 1, 2025
$18.75 per ERU/USAGE per Quarter

Town of Lawrence Sewer Rates - Effective January 1, 2024
Volume Charge - $5.11 per 1,000 gallons
Customer Charge - $71.85