U.S. Water News Online
DENVER -- So many metro area residents and businesses have cut down on water use, the state's largest water utility is considering raising rates to make up for lost revenue.
Despite the previous rate increases, 56 percent of Denver Water customers are paying lower water bills than they did three years ago because of conservation, drought restrictions and, more recently, steady rainfall.
As a result, water sales are 19 percent below projections this year and the utility is facing a $27.7 million deficit, finance director David LaFrance said.
"It's not official, but it's likely," Chips Barry, Denver Water's manager, said of the proposed hikes.
Denver Water is owned by the city and county of Denver and is only allowed to make enough money to cover expenses.
LaFrance said the utility has already cut costs to make ends meet, taking $54 million from savings since 2002 and leaving 45 jobs unfilled.
Still, the prospect of increased rates for everyone doesn't make sense to some Denver Water customers.
"So we did what they asked, and they're punishing us with higher prices?" said Debra Daniels, 37, a Denver Water customer. "The drought is starting to sound like an excuse to jack up rates."
Serena Blair, 23, a fitness trainer, said keeping the surcharges made more sense than overall rate increases.
"Let the people wasting water pay for it," she said. "This way everybody pays, and I use very little water."
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