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GUC Budget Approved

Each year Greenville Utilities develops a budget to support its mission of providing safe, reliable utility services at the lowest reasonable cost, with exceptional customer service. We have to live within our budget, just like our customers do. And, we face the same challenges as our customers as well. Rising costs of fuel, energy, supplies, materials and insurance have impacted our budget significantly. Stricter environmental regulations have also increased costs. In the past five years, regulatory requirements have increased our water treatment costs by $1.3 million/year and increased wastewater treatment costs by $2 million/year.

Guiding all budgetary decisions is our commitment to meet customer needs and expectations while providing for future financial challenges and opportunities. Our process to balance the budget focuses first on internal efficiencies and expenditure reductions. Only as a last step do we consider increasing rates and charges, which are based on the cost to serve each customer.

We are pleased to report that through cost-cutting measures and increased efficiencies, we were able to balance the budget while minimizing the financial impact to our customers.

After a careful study of long-term water and sewer needs, as of August 1, 2006, there will be an increase in the monthly Base Facilities Charge for sewer customers. A Base Facilities Charge is a monthly minimum charge designed to recover the fixed costs of utility service that stay the same each month. These fixed costs include billing & collection, meters and metering services, and debt on large construction projects. The current Base Facilities Charge no longer accurately recovers fixed costs; therefore, a modest increase is appropriate at this time. The majority of our sewer customers (93%) have 3/4” meters. For those customers, their Base Facilities Charge will increase $1.00/month. A sewer customer with a 3/4” meter currently pays a minimum charge of $6.22/month. With the increase, they will pay a minimum charge of $7.22/month. All larger meters for sewer customers will increase proportionately.

For builders and property developers, fees will increase as follows:

•   3/4” Water Tap Fee – increase of $200
(from $330 to $530)
•   1” Water Tap Fee – increase of $180
(from $460 to $640)
•   4” Sewer Connection Fee – increase of $200
(from $520 to $720)
•   Sewer Acreage Fee* – increase of $600/acre
(from $1,200/acre to $1,800/acre) 

* The Sewer Acreage Fee increase does not apply to the Southwest Sewer Service Area

Greenville Utilities’ budget was developed with our best efforts to control costs while at the same time meeting long-term needs and continuing to provide a high level of service to our customers. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact 551-1551.