Washington utilities commission sets new rates to reflect water system infrastructure upgrades

(UI) – Washington Water Service, a subsidiary of California Water Service Group, has received approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (Commission) to increase annual revenues by $2.125 million, effective July 28, 2023, to reflect upgrades made to water system infrastructure and higher operating costs.

Major investments made in Washington Water’s systems include 7,200 feet of new 4-, 8-, and 12-inch water main to replace aging pipes, reduce leaks, and enhance reliability, as well as a new well that can produce up to 275 gallons of water per minute.

Additionally, the Commission authorized funding—a portion of which is expected to be recovered in future years—for conservation programs, education, and outreach for the utility to help consumers use water more efficiently.

With this filing, Washington Water has begun taking steps to combine the East Pierce system’s rates with that of the rest of the utility. The utility believes that a single, statewide rate structure for all Washington Water customers in the future should help stabilize rates across the entire customer base and reduce the cost impact of improvements made in each system for customers.

Related News

From Archive

• Most Read
• Most Commented