Sisters launches water rate study

Sisters residents -- and city officials -- hope that the advent of cold winter weather will lower water usage in Sisters and bring water bills down. The Sisters City Council hopes to use the low usage period of winter to find out what can be done about water rates that skyrocketed for some users after the city went to metered rates this summer.

The city council decided Thursday, October 12, to contract HGE, Inc., the engineering firm that designed the city's new water system, to perform a water rates study for the city.

According to City Administrator Barbara Warren, the study, which will cost the city $4,500, will determine what rates the city must charge to maintain its water system.

Warren told The Nugget that HGE, Inc. will assess the costs of operating and maintaining the system; chemical consumption; amortization and depreciation of the system's value; the "break even point" of the rate structure; and the projected cost of future improvements.

Warren noted that rates may not change as a result of the study. But, she said, "Even if they don't change, there's statistical data to show what the city needs to run the system in the black -- which is a requirement of the state.

"I would think (the study ) would make the residents more comfortable with the charges," Warren said.

Under the metered rate structure established in Sisters last summer, a typical residence pays a base fee of $16.50 for the first 10,000 gallons or 1,337 cubic feet of water used. Each connection then pays $1.65 for each additional 1,000 gallons or 133.7 cubic feet. There is an additional charge of $6 on each water bill which goes to repay the water system loan.

Since those rates took effect, most residents have seen their bills go up -- some significantly.

The city council considered reverting to the old flat rate of $18 per month for all water consumption until the rate issue is resolved. They decided not to take that action because they expect most users to pay only the $16.50 base rate during the winter months.

The council expects to take action on water rates in February or March, after the results of the HGE study are in.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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