BWL considers an 18% water rate hike over the next two years

(Because of wrong information provided by the Lansing Board of Water and Light, this story has been updated to correct how much 100 cubic feet — a CCF — of water would cost under the proposed rate increase.)

FRIDAY, Sept. 16 — Water rates for Lansing Board of Water and Light customers would shoot up more than  18% over the next two years under a proposal going before the public utility's commissioners Tuesday, BWL spokesperson Amy Adamy said today.

Electric would increase 9% during the same period at the publicly owned utility, she said.

A hearing is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Depot in REO Town.

Commissioners plan to vote on the rate increases at their meeting Sept. 27. 

 Adamy said in an email would increase by an average of 9.2% in November and 9.3% a year later.  Electric rates would average of 4.5% each year as well, she said.

 Adamy said the water rate increase would hit the average “5 CCF usage customer is $3.35 as of Nov. 2022 and $3.71 as of Nov. 2023.” A CCF is 100 cubic feet of water, which is 748 gallons.

As for electric, “This will result in a financial impact per month for a 750 kWh usage customer of $4.73 as of Nov. 2022 and $5.57 as of Nov. 2023,” Adamy wrote. 

The proposal will also increase steam rates by 9.95%. Steam is provided mostly to business customers, although there are some homes in downtown Lansing still heated by steam service. 

In addition, the proposal will increase chilled water by 4%. Adamy noted the rate has not increased since 2014 for chilled water, which is provided to only business customers. 

In August DTE came under fire for a proposed 8.8% year-over-year increase in residential rates, as well as a solar use fee that independent experts said could add $100 a month to residential bills, Michigan Public Radio reported. The state Public Service Commission will decide Nov. 21 whether to approve the rate increase. The PSC over sees companies like Consumers Energy and DTE regulating their operations, fees and rates.