Utility Rates

Aerial view of Washougal Water Plant

CAPITAL PROJECTS

If you have questions about utility rates as they relate to capital projects in the water, sewer, and stormwater utilities, please call 360-835-8501, ext. 204.

UTILITY RATE STUDY PROCESS

Utility rates originally increased in 2010 due to the results of a Comprehensive Utility Rate Study (PDF). Since the original study, the City has made a concentrated effort to look at the needs of the Utilities to determine how utility rates could be stabilized while continuing to meet financial obligations, comply with legal requirements, maintain level of service, and adhere to industry best practices. As a result of this effort the City was able to approve a rate structure for five years (2019 to 2023).

In the Water portion of the Utility Bill, the base water allowance will continue to decrease by one unit per year from the original 10 units (7,480 gallons bimonthly) in 2014 down to zero units (zero gallons bimonthly) in 2023, allowing residents the control to lower bills by conserving water and only paying for what they use on top of the base charge.

  • 2022: The water base allowance decreases from 2 units (1,496 gallons bimonthly) to 1 unit (748 gallons bimonthly).
  • 2023: The water base allowance decreases from 1 unit (748 gallons bimonthly) to zero units (zero gallons bimonthly).

In the Sewer portion of the Utility Bill, we are continuing to bill sewer based on a flow-based approach which began in 2020. Whereas every single-family residential user used to pay the same rate regardless of the number of occupants; now the structure is a base rate plus consumption (exactly like water). However, unlike water which changes every bill cycle, we will take the winter average water usage to use as your consumption for the following year. Depending on if you receive your bill in an odd numbered month or an even numbered month, the winter average will consist of December/February or January/March average of the 2 bills. For example, if you are billed for 12 ccf of water in December and 10 ccf of water in February, your average will be 11 ccf for the following year for sewer.

If you have a new account or an account that has not been billed for the full winter averaging cycle, you will be billed 11 ccf (which has been calculated to be the single-family average use for the winter months) until which time as you establish your own winter average.

Rate Study Council Presentations

  1. Washougal Water, Sewer & Stormwater Rate Study Phase I 05.29.2018.pptx
  2. Washougal Water, Sewer & Stormwater Rate Study Phase II.A 08.09.2018.pptx
  3. Washougal Water, Sewer & Stormwater Rate Study Phase II.B 10.22.2018.pptx
  4. Washougal Water, Sewer & Stormwater Rate Study Phase III.A 07.22.2019.pptx
  5. Washougal Water, Sewer & Stormwater Rate Study Phase III.B 11.18.2019.pptx

20150408_1457222023 Water, Sewer and Stormwater Rates

The City of Washougal operates and maintains water, sewer and stormwater utilities, serving more than 16,950 customers. The safe and reliable delivery of these services is of utmost importance to each individual customer and to the overall health of our community. Utility systems are extremely complex and require a substantial financial investment to operate and maintain.  Establishing appropriate rates to support the operations of each utility is critically important to ensure the reliability and safety of these services to the community.

Sample proHow are rates established?

To establish the new rates for each of the utilities, the city hired an independent third party to work closely with key team members over a two-year period (2017-2018). The largest cost driver for providing utility services is the required capital facilities. To mitigate the impact of rate increases, the group reviewed the capital improvement plans to determine which projects could be deferred until after the current five-year rate window (2023). In total, over $9,600,000 was deferred past the end of the rate study across the three utilities. Since adopting the 2019-2023 utility rates, the city continued to seek efficiencies, including staffing adjustments.

When were the new rates set?

Rates for the 2019-2023 rate window were first adopted in 2018. On December 2, 2019, the city council adopted updated sewer and stormwater rates for the remaining 4 years of the rate window (2020-2023). Along with new sewer rates, a new rate model was implemented; flow-based sewer, which seeks to provide all our customers with greater equity. The December 2019 updates include:

 

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WATER: No changes to the previously adopted rate increases through 2023 (adopted in 2018).

SEWER: In 2018 sewer rate increases were adopted for 2019-2023. In 2019 the City was able to reduce the level of sewer rate increases previously adopted, providing some mitigation to the previously adopted increases for 2020-2023.

STORMWATER: In 2018 storm rate increases were adopted for 2019-2023. In 2019 the City was able to reduce the level of storm rate increases previously adopted, providing some mitigation to the previously adopted increases for 2020-2023.

Where does revenue from customer-paid utility rates go?

The revenue received from customer-paid rates is, by law, consigned to individual enterprise accounts used exclusively for the cost of providing the utility service. This ensures that utility revenues and costs remain verifiable and separate from the General Fund, which is tax-funded and supports core municipal services such as police, fire, parks and streets.

How are the rates different from last year (2022)?

2022 Single-Family Utility Rates vs 2023 Single-Family Utility Rates by Service Chart

HOW do Washougal rates compare with other cities?

A utility bill comparison among other areas around the region can be viewed at https://www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/utility-bill-comparison.

2023 Rates

  1. Water
  2. Sewer
  3. Stormwater

For the water utility, after 10 years have reached the structure in which you only pay for a base fee and actual consumption instead of paying for an allowance (set amount included in the flat fee).  This will allows customers to control their bill. As of 2023, there will no longer be an allowance in the base fee. This phase-out began in 2013, when the base allowance was 10 CCF (7,480 gallons/bi-monthly). 

Meter Size2023 Bi-Monthly Base Rate
3/4"$44.54

*1 CCF = 100 cubic feet of water = 748 gallons

For all usage, customers will pay the following (per unit):

Single Family Residential2023 Volume Change
0-12 CCF$2.47
13-30 CCF$6.70
Over 30 CCF$8.39


Related Documents

  1. 2023 Utility Rates Fact Sheet.pdf
  2. 2022 Utility Rates Fact Sheet