Green Bay residents’ water bills will increase on August 1 for the first time in four years

GREEN BAY – Water will become more expensive for Green Bay residents starting August 1, the first cost increase in four years, the city water utility announced on Monday morning.

Here’s what you need to know before your next water bill:

How much will my water bill increase in Green Bay?

Green Bay Water, a company that provides water to more than 100,000 residents, says the average household will pay $12 more per quarter.

This represents an average increase of one-tenth of a cent per gallon of water each quarter. (A typical family uses 10,473 gallons of water every three months, according to the utility.)

Customers will pay 32% more for the utility to bring water to their homes and support infrastructure to keep water clean for residents, in what is called a “meter fee.” The cost of fire protection will increase by 12%, as will the price per 100 cubic feet of water supplied to homes.

Why will my water bill in Green Bay be more expensive?

The water concessionaire is not supported by taxes. It depends on what it charges customers for maintenance of pipes and facilities that make Lake Michigan water safe for use.

After four years without rate adjustments, the planned change is necessary so the city’s system can continue to provide clean water to residents and pay for improvements where needed, Brian Powell, general manager of Green Bay Water, said in Monday’s announcement -fair.

“I’m proud to say that even with this increase our water will still be below a penny per gallon,” he said in the release.

How was the increase in water tariffs decided?

Since the end of last year, the water utility has planned an increase in rates in the summer.

The company must submit any proposed rate changes to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, which it did on January 3. The committee then gives its approval or rejects the changes.

When will water bills go up in Green Bay?

The new rates will come into effect from August 1st.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of cost increases per service

Meter Load

Fire protection

Rate per 100 cubic feet of water used

Jesse Lin covers the Green Bay community and politics in northeastern Wisconsin. An East Coast native who has lived primarily in Appalachia and Pennsylvania, he graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University before working at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at jlin@gannett.com or call 920-431-8247.

This article originally appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay residents’ water bills will increase starting August 1