Marlene Feist, Utilities Director of Strategic Development, No Phone Number Available
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 2:28 p.m.
Each day, our citizens rely on the City of Spokane to provide basic utility services, including providing clean drinking water, processing wastewater, and picking up garbage and recyclables. The City strives to provide excellent utility services while focusing on affordable and predictable rates.
For 2017, City utility customers will see a 2.9 percent increase in their monthly bills, which is equal to the average cost of inflation over the last 25 years. The Mayor and Council have committed to limiting utility rate increases to average inflation, and in 2014, they approved three years’ worth of increases at that inflationary rate for 2015, 2016, and 2017. They will review rates in 2017 for future years.
The average monthly bill for a residential customer who lives in the City in 2017 will be $120.62, an increase of about $3.38. The chart below includes a closer look at the components of the bill. The integrated capital charge pays for capital infrastructure projects in areas of water, wastewater and stormwater.
Average Monthly Utility Bill – In-City Residential Customer
| Service | Base Charge | Consumption | Capital | TOTALS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68-gallon Garbage Cart | $30.09 | $30.09 | ||
| Wastewater | $29.71 | $29.71 | ||
| Water | $15.80 | $12.95* | $28.75 | |
| Stormwater | $4.18 | $4.18 | ||
| Integrated Capital | $27.89 | $27.89 | ||
| TOTAL | $120.62 |
*Assumes 15,000 gallons of water usage.
Commercial and business customers will see the same 2.9 percent increase, but their bills are structured somewhat differently, based on the size of their water service line and other factors.
In the last five years, the City has worked in other ways to make bills more affordable and predictable for customers. The City:
More information on 2017 City utility rates, including out-of-city residential rates, is found on the City’s web site.
