Starting in January, you’ll see some changes to your utility bill. Over the past two years, the City Council has reviewed the utility rate structure, project costs, and anticipated needs. As a result, they’ve updated the water and wastewater master plans, revised the system development charges (SDCs) for new construction, and adjusted how utility bills are calculated.
The biggest change is making rates more responsive to how much water is used. Right now, the monthly residential flat charge includes 400 cf (about 3,000 gallons) of water, meaning you pay the same flat rate amount whether you use 1,000 or 3,000 gallons. The new rate will lower the flat rate and no longer include the 400 cf allowance, so you’ll only pay for what you use. This benefits households with lower water usage and was designed to be revenue-neutral for the City.
Another change involves adding a consumption-based charge for sewer use instead of a flat fee. Currently, single-family residential sewer users pay a flat fee regardless of usage, while other users like multi-family and commercial are charged based on water consumption. Since summer water use often doesn’t affect the sewer system (like water for pools or irrigation), the new rate structure will use a winter average to calculate sewer charges in the summer for residential users. From April to September, sewer charges will be based on the lesser of your actual usage or the average usage from October to March (winter average).
Lastly, the rates for water, sewer, and the street/storm fee were adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Water and the street/storm fee were adjusted by 3.1%. Since there is a need to replace the City’s main sewer line to the Gresham treatment plant, the sewer rate was increased by 7.1% (3.1% for inflation, and 4% to help cover the cost of the project). This replacement, identified in the master plan, has been under study by an engineering firm monitoring the flow through the current 15-inch line to ensure accurate data for the new line’s sizing and future construction.
More details about all the changes are provided in the tabs below. Please feel free to reach out to the City online, by phone or in person if you have any questions or concerns.
Use Less Water | Based on the new rate structure, households that use less water, pay less.
Be Water Conscious in the Winter | Based on the new rate structure, the City will calculate residential sewer consumption charges based on the lower of either your actual water usage or your average water usage between October-March.
For additional water conservation tips, visit the Regional Water Providers Consortium website.
Based on the new rate structure, the City will calculate residential sewer consumption charge based on the lower of either your actual water usage or your average water usage between October-March. So, if you use less water in the Winter months than in the Summer (peak watering season), your sewer volume charge will be based on your lower Winter average.
Water Rate
Sewer Rate
Water Rate
Sewer Rate
| Projected Monthly Rates | Projected Monthly Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective January 1, 2024 | Effective January 1, 2025 | |||
| WATER RATES | ||||
| Single Family | ||||
| Base Fee | $29.84 | $17.53 | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF over 400 CF | $2.13 | N/A | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF | N/A | $3.04 | ||
| Single Family, Retired | ||||
| Base Fee | $22.40 | Rate Deleted | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF over 400 CF | $2.13 | Rate Deleted | ||
| STREET USER FEES | ||||
| Single Family Residence (for reference) | $12.83 | $13.23 | ||
| Residential Fee per ADT | $1.3580 | $1.4001 | ||
| Flood Safety Residential Fee per ADT | N/A | $0.1470 | ||
| SEWER RATES | ||||
| Single Family | ||||
| Base Fee | $67.83 | $32.13 | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF | $5.57 | |||
| Single Family, Retired | ||||
| Base Fee | $50.91 | Rate Deleted |
Water Rate
Sewer Rate
Water Rate
Sewer Rate
The City is able to save time and money by sending one utility bill to a multi-family property rather than individually billing each unit. Once the City sends out the utility bill for a multi-family property, the property manager/landlord is then responsible for calculating the cost per unit.
| Projected Monthly Rates | Projected Monthly Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective January 1, 2024 | Effective January 1, 2025 | |||
| WATER RATES | ||||
| Multi-Family (Includes 2, 3 & 4-plexes) | ||||
| Base Fee | $28.59 | $15.78 | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF over 400 CF | $2.13 | N/A | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF | N/A | $3.04 | ||
| Multi-Family, Retired | ||||
| Base Fee | $21.44 | Rate Deleted | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF over 400 CF | $2.13 | Rate Deleted | ||
| STREET USER FEES | ||||
| Apartment (for reference) | $8.83 | $9.10 | ||
| Mobile Home Park (for reference) | $6.66 | $6.86 | ||
| Residential Fee per ADT | $1.3580 | $1.4001 | ||
| Flood Safety Residential Fee per ADT | N/A | $0.1470 | ||
| SEWER RATES | ||||
| Multi-Family (Includes 2, 3 & 4-plexes) | ||||
| Base Fee | $20.82 | $28.92 | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF | $5.28 | $5.57 | ||
| Multi-Family, Retired | ||||
| Base Fee | $15.61 | Rate Deleted | ||
| Consumption Fee for each 100 CF | $5.28 | Rate Deleted |
As noted in the last newsletter, the City was considering replacing the Retired Household Discount Program with the standard Utility Assistance Program. After the open house event and a public hearing, the Council did vote to end the Retired Household Discount. The program will end December 31, 2024. Those currently on the program will receive a separate notice with additional information about the City’s Utility Assistance Program, what it is, and how to apply. One of the main factors in the decision was how the Retired Household Discount was not means tested or based on income level. Also, when the program started over 50 years ago, there was not a general utility assistance program like there is today. Those on the Retired Household Discount program who need financial assistance still have access to help, just in a different way.
The Retired Household Discount Program will be folded into the City’s current Utility Assistance Program
To learn more about or to apply for the Utility Assistance Program, click here.
Effective June 6, 2024, Senate Bill 1517 provided the UFSWQD with two financial tools to collect revenue to operate and maintain flood safety infrastructure:
The UFSWQD now has the authority to maintain the existing property assessments used by the the legacy drainage districts. This assessment would only be applied to the properties that receive a direct physical benefit from the flood safety infrastructure. This modification provides the district with a stable operating revenue base that is affordable to implement and property owners in the managed floodplain are already familiar with.
The UFSWQD also now has the authority to charge an intergovernmental Flood Safety Benefit Fee to the cities within the district’s boundary and Multnomah County for the unincorporated areas within the district. This fee is designed to reflect the “regional significance” of the economic and community benefits provided by the district as noted in ORS 550.150. The fee would be apportioned to each jurisdiction based on population and each jurisdiction would be responsible for determining how to raise the revenue to pay this fee to the district. This is the fee that will appear on your utility bill beginning January 1, 2025.
2. District-wide Flood Safety Benefit Fee
You can expect to see the Flood Safety Benefit Fee on your utility bill beginning January 1, 2025. For single-family residences, the anticipated monthly fee is under $2. Future outreach on the City’s website, social media, and newsletter will explain how utility users can expect to see this fee. For information on the UFSWQD, visit urbanfloodsafetyor.gov.
