An article in today’s N&O started off with this opening line; “Water bills are going up. Again.”
The council voted 5-3 to charge $3.27 per 1,000 gallons of water, up from $2.87, said Dale Crisp, the head of Raleigh’s public utilities department. A bi-monthly base fee of $8.47 will go up to $9.61.
That means the average household in Raleigh, which uses an estimated 4,500 gallons of water a month, will pay $39.04 for two months, instead of $34.30. Trash and recycling fees are tacked on to those bills. The rate approved Tuesday is the same amount paid by commercial customers, whose rates will also rise Dec. 1 because of a decision made by the council earlier this year.
By contrast, the same 4,500 gallons cost residents of Southern Granville County $137.88 (for two months) excluding Creedmoor, South Granville Water and Sewer Authority (SGWASA), customers are billed monthly. So, Raleigh water and sewer customers pay $39.04 bi-monthly, we pay $137.88. Now do the math.
Share your thoughts, What’s wrong with this picture?
Posted by Matt on October 27, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I had a disagreement with SGWASA shortly after Lyon Station was absorbed/renamed… Mainly about the short turnaround time from bill to due to late fees – but also about our comparative rates… And since then , we’ve seen two other large increases. Lindsay MIze, the director for SGWASA needs to go – she hasn’t done her job to increase efficiency rather than just raise rates. And she quotes what she is allowed to do by state law – not what she should do to best serve the customers she serves.
Two problems:
1. Water used to be billed at a flat rate for the first 4K gallons, and a lot extra for additional usage. This paradigm is better than the current billing system which charges less for water abuse and everyone pays a huge premium.
2. When there are problems in our water system, they are not dealt with in a timely fashion. The letters are typically sent after the problem is fixed.
I’m not saying the water should be as inexpensive as Raleigh (more customers, less distance from place to place) but it is absurd we pay 4X as much – with more increases expected.
Posted by imjustpissed on October 21, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Yeah SGWASA is ripping off as many as it can. Look who’s on its board? Hello
I’m telling ya Nov. is going to bring some changes to Butner. The crooks and the liars need to go!!!
Posted by A Bullock on October 21, 2009 at 7:07 pm
What’s Raleigh got to whine about?
Thank good ole boy Jimmy Crawford for SGWASA, Crawford knew when him and his cronies incorporated Butner this would happen. In short he lied and the Butner Avisory Board lied to the citizens. Do your homework it’s all in black and white.