Brighton City Council approves increases to utility rates

The Brighton City Council last night approved rate increases for water and sewer services as recommended by city staff. The plan approved by City Council calls for a one-year delay of funding capital as well as infrastructure replacement in order to allow for less of an impact to residents. The new rates, which go into effect with utility bills issued after Jan. 1, include an increase to both fixed rates and user rates for water and sewer as well as the addition of a storm drainage fee.

For fixed rates, residential consumers will now pay $9.86 per month for water, up $2, and $7.05 per month for sewer, up $1.65. The fixed storm drainage fee will be $1.79 per month.

For user rates, residential consumers will now pay $4.09 per 1,000 gallons of water up to 25,000 gallons of water used, up 16 cents per 1,000 gallons, and $4.08 per 1,000 gallons of sewer, also up 16 cents per 1,000 gallons.

The average family that uses approximately 11,000 gallons of water and sewer in the summer months can expect to see their user rate increase by about $1.80 per month and their fixed rate to increase by $3.69 each month.

Commercial users will also see an increase to their water and sewer fixed rates and user rates based on the size of their meter.

“Our Utilities staff has emphasized that there will be increasing number of failures in the water and wastewater systems which will disrupt the quality of service within our neighborhoods unless efforts are undertaken to establish a sustainable long-term revenue program for maintenance and replacement of 100-year-old components of Brighton’s utility system,” said Jim Landeck, Director of Utilities for the City of Brighton. “While raising rates is not ideal, it is necessary in order to sustain a safe system for our residents.”

The Utilities Department continues to offer a senior discount for persons age 60 and older or permanently disabled individuals. For water usage from 1,000 gallons up to and including 5,000 gallons of water usage, the rate is $1.47 per thousand gallons. After that, the regular residential rate applies.

For questions regarding utility charges, please visit www.brightonco.gov/department/division.php?fDD=38-133 or call 303-655-2009.