By CARRIE STAMBAUGH - The Independent
ASHLAND — Ashland water customers will notice this year’s rate increase on their February bills arriving in the next few weeks.
Ashland’s water rate increases each year based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index’s line item for water, sewer and garbage. This year’s adjustment issued in January was 6.5 percent, according to City Manager Steve Corbitt.
The new water rates, set by city ordinance, took effect Jan. 1 but because bills are based on the previous months usage, customers won’t pay the new rate for water used in January until this month. Some customers won’t feel the entire increase until their March bills based on when their meter is read, said Toniqua Webb, Ashland accounts receivable supervisor. She said water distribution reads meters around the 8th and 22nd of each month.
The average residential water customer uses 4,000 gallons and will see a $1.08 increase in their monthly bill. The average customer will pay $17.86 for monthly service in 2010 up from $16.78 in 2009.
The minimum bill increased 48 cents up from $7.42 to $7.90.
Administration and billing charges have also increased up from $3.68 a month in 2009 to $3.92 in 2010.
Even with the increases Ashland water customers are still paying some of the lowest rates in the state, said Corbitt. The most recent Kentucky Water and Sewer Rate Survey done by the Allen and Hoshall Engineers placed Ashland 10th lowest among the 158 utilities supplying water in Kentucky.
During 2009, Ashland’s Water Works produced treated and delivered 4,099,628,000 gallons of drinking water without violation.
