Metered water bills to be mailed next week

Metered water bills are scheduled to be mailed on May 30, according to Janet Beck, Midwest Electric customer service representative. 

Sample metered water bills were sent separately at the end of March and April to give Grant residents an idea what they would be paying for metered water. 

The bills that will be sent next week, however, will also include electricity, sewer and trash charges. 

The Grant City Council approved metered water rates 3-1 on Nov. 28, 2017 after Randy Hellbusch presented information from the NebraskaRural Water Association (NeRWA) water rate study. 

The base rate for a one-inch or less line is $17.50 and water is charged at $1.80 per 1,000 gallons. The base rate increases with the size of the line. (See chart below.)

Selling the estimated 77 million gallons will bring in an annual revenue of nearly $380,000. The total revenue required totals just under $375,000, and includes annual operating and maintenance costs and loan repayment.

At that same November meeting, Hellbusch said Grant was currently pumping 150-160 million gallons. Mayor Mike Wyatt said he had a hard time believing water usage would drop 50 percent.

Hellbusch said he had similar concerns from other city councils he’s worked with, but their projections have almost always been correct, and the rate could be lowered if more water is sold. 

He recommended doing another rate study once they have another 12 months of data. 

With metered water now in effect, Wyatt suspended the water restrictions. Lawns may now be watered as residents deem appropriate.

“I ask those using water from the City of Grant system to use good judgement and reasonable conservation practices,” said Wyatt in a release. 

The city code allows the mayor to reinstate the water restrictions at any time, such as in times of drought or if city wells are unable to keep up with demand due to overuse.