Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority customers to see water and sewer rate increases
The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees has approved a sewer rate increase for township customers, and the Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority board also approved a water rate increase at its May meeting.
The Ypsilanti City Council will consider approving sewer rate increases at its July 19 meeting. The YCUA doesn’t need municipalities’ approval to increase water rates.
YCUA director Larry Thomas said the average household, which is roughly equivalent to a family of four, will see an increase of $4.52 on their bi-monthly bill. A minimum monthly user, which Thomas said is typically an individual living alone, would see an increase of $2.27 on the bi-monthly bill.
The rates will be effective September 1.
Thomas said the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, the agency from which YCUA buys water, passed on an increase of 9.2 percent. That forced the YCUA to increase its own rates.
Thomas said the YCUA was able to pass on a smaller increase because it found new efficiencies within the operation. Annual rate increases the Detroit department passes on to customers are typically the result of the need to fund capital projects to maintain and improve its system.
Last year, the Detroit department passed on an 18.6 percent increase, which resulted in a 12 percent increase for YCUA customers, who live in Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, York Township, Augusta Township and Pittsfield Township.
A large portion of that increase was attributed to the area's decline in industrial water use.
The last time YCUA customers saw sewer rates rise was a 3.5 percent jump in 2008. Thomas said the organization was able to avoid an increase by saving money on employment through attrition and find efficiencies in its operation.
But he said the rising cost of natural gas and electricity, along with growing contributions to employees’ post-employment trust fund, required an increase.
“The last increase was in 2008, and that’s a long time ago,” Thomas said. “We’ve been cutting in the last few years, but we really can’t cut anymore. Certain things in particular, like the cost that we have to pay run a wastewater treatment center, requires a lot of electricity and natural gas.”
According to Michigan Department of Natural Resources statistics from fiscal year 2010, YCUA customers enjoyed the lowest water and sewer rates in Washtenaw County. Thomas said he wasn't aware of those numbers.
“I’d like to think it’s because we’re efficient,” Thomas said.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
oldblueypsi
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
For customers in the City of Ypsilanti, don't forget to add the 71% (that's right, seventy-one percent) surcharge to the new rates.
pseudo
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 10:04 a.m.
We'll be hooking up more rain barrels AND this might make the calculation for a underground cistern flip to the positive (meaning putting one in based on a 4 year payback). I agree that YCUA is solid. I wonder if there if they are working on alternative water sources given the terrible state of the Detroit system. I think there should be level of concern about the ability of the Detroit system to deliver given the mess that its in. They are having trouble pumping water now. There has been so much corruption for so long that I wonder if that organization (meaning the people in it) can keep delivering water to YCUA. And, in an attempt to right the system, the Detroit system will have to raise rates on its suburbs by some crazy amount more than it has in the past.
Maxwell
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
"YCUA customers enjoyed the lowest water and sewer rates in Washtenaw County" Kind of says it all!
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
how nice. are we picking up the tab for the deadbeats that don't pay their bills?
Basic Bob
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 1:56 p.m.
Not only is this the least expensive, it is the best quality in the county. The rate increase is necessary because of the age of the system and neglect caused by years of diversion of maintenance funds in Detroit. Ann Arbor should be so lucky.