How rate increase might impact your Global Water bill

Jan 9, 2021

1822

Global Water Bill — A Global Water bill.

If approved, the rate increases requested by Global Water for each of its various subsidiary companies will likely take effect in January 2022.

The company has 10 subsidiaries in metro Phoenix, including two in Maricopa.

City customers get water service from the Santa Cruz Water Company and wastewater service from Palo Verde Utilities Company. About 93% of Global Water customers get service from those two companies.

Here is a breakdown of the proposed increases for Maricopa customers by both average dollar amount and percentage for each of the three years for the proposed phase-in. All figures were provided by Nick Debus, legislative liaison at the Arizona Corporation Commission.

RESIDENTIAL WASTEWATER

For Palo Verde Utilities Company, residential and commercial wastewater service rates would increase from $69.53 to $70.07 per month in the first year, an increase of 54 cents or 0.78% from current rates. In the second year, rates would rise to $73.03, an increase of $2.96 or 4.22% over the first year. In the third year, rates would increase to $79.87, an increase of $6.84 or 9.37% over year two. Total increase over three years: 14.3%, or $10.34 monthly.

RESIDENTIAL WATER

For Santa Cruz Water Company, which provides potable water service, a residential customer using an average of 7,765 gallons per month would see monthly rates increase from $48.63 to $50.53 in the first year, an increase of $1.89 or 3.91%, In the second year, rates would rise to $52.58, an increase of $2.05 or 4.05% over the first year, then $54.64 in the third year, an increase of $2.06 or 4.08% over year two. Total increase over three years: 12.04%, or $6.01 monthly.

COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS

For commercial customers, Debus calculated the increase based on usage of 50,000 gallons per month (though the average Santa Cruz commercial customer’s usage is actually less, about 43,000 gallons). In the first year, rates would increase monthly from $487.44 to $534.72, an increase of $47.28 or 9.7%, and then in the second year to $539.95 an increase of $5.23 or .98% over the first-year rates. In the third year, rates would climb to $545.17, an increase of $5.22 or 0.98% over second-year rates. Total increase over three years: 11.66%, or $57.73 monthly.