From The Denver Post (Bruce Finley):
Denver Water utility officials will ask city water commissioners on [November 16, 2016] to increase rates enough to raise an additional $7 million for a proposed 2017 annual budget of $431.6 million — up 12 percent from the current budget.
The $7 million from higher bills for Denver Water’s 1.4 million customers would fund projects such as modernizing water-cleaning plants, replacing aging pipes and making sure underground water storage tanks don’t leak.
“Denver Water needs to be able to continue to collect, treat and deliver safe, reliable water to our customers,” utility spokeswoman Stacy Chesney said. Higher rates “will allow us to continue improving our water system while ensuring essential water use remains affordable for our customers.”
The water commissioners are scheduled to vote on the rate hikes Dec. 14. The higher rates would kick in around April 2017.
Total water use by Denver Water customers, including factories and businesses, has decreased by 20 percent since 2001 despite a 15 percent increase in the number of customers, according to utility data.
This week, Denver Water officials said they have re-calculated residential water use and determined that their customers use about 90 gallons a day per person. Denver residents used about 120 gallons per person in 2001. Denver has emerged as a leader among western cities pushing conservation to avoid running dry amid a regional boom in population growth and development.
“Water conservation has been a cost-effective way to extend our supplies,” Chesney said. “Customers are using less water, but our population is growing. Our rate structure is aimed at balancing conservation, affordability and revenue stability.”
How much Denver residents pay still will depend on the amount of water they use and whether they receive water directly from Denver Water pipelines or from contracted suburban water distributors.