Everett utility rates to increase over next 4 years

Published 1:30 am Friday, February 3, 2017

EVERETT — The Everett City Council passed a set of utility rate hikes to take effect over the next four years. Overall utility bills will rise March 1 by 5.7 percent, and increase at a smaller rate Jan. 1, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The increases affect water and sewer customers both on the flat rates and metered rates. The increases are smaller than what was initially proposed after the city postponed a $70 million project to upgrade several public works buildings.

“We’re in the process of going back and revisiting all the various options we looked at, and we’ll be back,” Public Works director Dave Davis told the council.

Rates would likely rise to account for the new project when that happens.

The new rate structure also includes $10 million to replace 33 miles of World War II-era cast iron pipes prone to breaking during cold weather.