Future Water Utility Rates Study

The City of Columbia Water Utility and Stantec Consulting are completing a cost of service study that will help determine how much revenue the water utility needs to cover expenses while balancing impacts on customers.

The results of the study will be presented to the City Council in an upcoming session.

Studies such as these are generally conducted every five years to accommodate any changes to expenses, technology, etc. The last study was completed in 2018, with recommendations implemented in 2019. This upcoming study will project costs and necessary revenue for the next ten years.

Stantec Consulting will perform the study to examine the Water Utility’s revenue sufficiency, cost of service, rate design, and customer impact.

• Revenue sufficiency: How much money is needed to meet sustainable operations?

• Cost of service: From whom should the money be collected?

• Rate design: What is the charge that is proportional to the service provided?

• Customer impact: How do we achieve fair and justifiable rates?

The public had the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments at the meeting, which was recorded. Interested parties can view the recording at their convenience on the City of Columbia website.