Fairfax Water proposes rate increases
Members of the public will have a chance to tell Fairfax Water what they think of the proposed rate increases at a public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 15.
The hearing will be held at Fairfax Water’s office at 8570 Executive Park Ave. in Merrifield. It starts at 6:30 p.m. If you want to speak at the hearing, call Tonya Clement at 703-289-6029.
The following proposed changes would take effect on April 1, 2023:
- The “base commodity charge” for residential water use for established accounts would be increased from $3.46 to $3.65 per 1,000 gallons of water used in the past three months.
- Established accounts may be subject to a peak use charge, which would increase from $3.85 to $4. The peak use charge is applied during billing periods ending in June through November when water consumption is 1.3 times the water consumption during the winter quarter or 6,000 gallons above the winter quarter consumption, whichever is greater.
- The commodity charge for new accounts would increase from $3.61 to $3.80 per 1,000 gallons of water used in the previous three months. New customers pay a higher rate because they are not charged for their peak use until they establish their winter quarter consumption.
- The service charge tacked onto each bill for customers paying quarterly would remain at $14.95 for single-family homes and townhouses. Service charges for multifamily, commercial, and industrial customers would increase, with the amount based on the size of the meter.
- The “availability charge” for service provided through each new separate connection would increase from $4,510 to $4,640.
- The “local facilities charge” – for each service connection to an existing water main – would rise from $19,400 to $22,090.
- The charge for each new service connection and meter installation would increase from $1,480 to $1,790.
- The charge for opening a new account would go from $41 to $44.
- The charge to turn on water service after it’s been disconnected due to nonpayment would increase from $50 to $53.
6 responses to “Fairfax Water proposes rate increases”
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Every three months when I get my water bill, I am amazed that it is lower per month than any other item on my “to pay” list. Water! An absolute necessity for life is cheaper than TV, internet, cell phone even gas and electricity. Just stop and think of our total dismay if we turned the faucet and got nothing by air – no water for flushing, cooking, washing – that lovely hot shower. I think we can afford a small increase or even a bit more without a big fuss.
Speak for yourself, my water bill gets bigger every quarter! Can’t wait till I get the FFX Air bill!
The main thing missing from this article is, perhaps, the most important: THE REASON FOR THE INCREASES. What are they? Why will we be asked to pay more?