Portland’s typical water, sewer bill set to top $100 a month

  • By Brad Schmidt The Oregonian/OregonLive
  • Tuesday, May 17, 2016 1:40pm
  • Local News

PORTLAND, Ore. — Benjamin Franklin, meet Portland, Oregon.

Beginning July 1, Portland utility customers will pay upwards of $100 a month for water, sewer and stormwater services — surpassing an arbitrary yet significant milestone.

The combined utility bill for a typical customer will reach $103.63, up 4.5 percent from the current $99.21.

Portland’s rising utility rates had been a political flashpoint in recent years. But the drama has largely subsided, thanks to annual bill hikes no larger than 5 percent and elimination of tangential projects that angered ratepayers and prompted a long legal fight.

“While no one likes to pay more for the utilities, including me, I am confident we are providing good value with what we’re charging people, and we’re on a path to stabilizing rates well into the future,” said Commissioner Nick Fish, who oversees the Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services.

For the first time in recent memory, Portland’s water bill is going up by more than the sewer and stormwater portion.

Water rates are climbing 7 percent, taking the monthly charge to $33.83 — $2.22 more than the current bill. Sewer and stormwater bills will increase 3.3 percent, with a monthly charge rising to $69.80 — $2.20 higher than current levels.

A typical customer uses 500 cubic feet of water per month, according to the city, with water use a proxy for sewer charges.

Concern over rising utility charges peaked in 2012, under the former administrations of Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioner Randy Leonard. Mayor Charlie Hales ran for election that year pledging “lower water and sewer rates” and assigned Portland’s utilities to Fish.

Since then, the typical bill has risen from $86.22 to $103.63, a 20 percent hike.

Fish said Portland’s investment in the $1.4 billion Big Pipe project drove up sewer costs earlier than in other cities across the country. Prices elsewhere will rise as more jurisdictions complete expensive projects, similar to Portland, to prevent sewer discharges in waterways, Fish said.

It’s now time for Portland to spend more to improve its water system, Fish said, including new reservoirs at Washington Park and a pipeline carrying water underneath the Willamette River.

Fish said he knows bills have risen faster than inflation. But Fish, who seems unlikely to keep both utilities under a new mayor in 2017, maintains that ratepayers are receiving a “good value.”

“I remain confident that we can keep the combined rate increases below 5 percent,” he said.

The City Council is set to review the hikes Wednesday, with a vote the following week.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.