Pflugerville Water Rates To Increase By November

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — Water and wastewater rates will increase by November in Pflugerville — by $20 monthly for residential users, and nearly $40 for commercial clients — officials announced Tuesday evening.

Citing a need "... to meet the needs of the city’s infrastructure," city officials said the average residential user will see a $20 monthly increase on their utility bill while commercial users will pay $38.82 more for their bill.

In an advisory, city officials said the imminent increases came after a report by a firm hired to assess the fee structure. To that end, NewGen Strategies and Solutions was hired to conduct an analysis of the city’s water and wastewater rates, which was presented to city council at a Sept. 8 work session. The study, city officials said, showed that current utility rates "under-recover" the costs of providing water and wastewater service.

Based on $500 million in critical infrastructure projects outlined in the city’s five-year capital improvement program, officials added, "...rates must increase now to maintain the existing system and increase capacity."

City officials broke down the bolstered fees further:

Residential customers

The average residential customer uses a standard 5/8” meter, 8,000 gallons of water per month and 5,000 gallons of wastewater per month. This customer will see a $20 monthly increase in their total bill starting Nov. 1.

• $5 a month increase for the average residential water customer.
• $15 a month increase for wastewater for the average residential water customer

The study recommended incremental increases over the next five years to meet the ongoing costs of water and wastewater service. By Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), water and wastewater rates would reflect the following increases:

• $22 increase to the average residential water customer by FY25.
• $42.75 increase to the average residential wastewater customer by FY25.
• The average residential water customer’s bill would rise from the current rate of $81.90 to $146.65 by FY25. (Customers outside the city limits are charged an additional $5 per month.)

Commercial Customers

The average commercial customer with a 1” meter would see an increase to their water and wastewater bill of $38.82 per month starting November 1, 2020. By FY25, water and wastewater rates would reflect the following increases:

• $38.82 increase for the average commercial water customer by FY25.
• $87.20 increase for the average commercial wastewater customer by FY25.
• The average commercial customer’s bill would rise from the current rate of $140.30 to $276 a month by FY 25.

Historical data and future projections were considered in the cost of service and rate design study, officials added, as were assumptions related to customer growth, cost inflation and interest rates on proposed debt. The Finance and Budget Committee reviewed the study findings and voted to recommend approval of these rate increases. The last utility rate study was conducted in 2017 and new rates were effective October 1, 2018, officials said.

The utility fund is reliant upon the utility fees collected and used to fund water and wastewater operations. For more information, visit the Utility Billing portal on the City of Pflugerville website.

Editor's note: A typographical error in a city news release indicating an increase of $48.50 in commercial users' bills. On Wednesday, city officials reached out to Patch saying the increase would actually be $38.82.