Okatie, SC (June 24, 2011)—Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority’s (BJWSA) Board of Directors voted on June 23 rd to raise rates for retail and wholesale customers. The average, residential, water-only customer—who uses around 7,000 gallons per month—will see an increase of about $0.98 every month. The average, residential, water and sewer customer will see an average increase of around $3.98 per month. The change is primarily due to increased costs to the Authority—including power and fuel—along with declines in residential and commercial growth. The increase is BJWSA’s first in three years. “A rate increase is something that we undertake reluctantly, and only after much planning and analysis,” said Dean Moss, General Manager at BJWSA. “We want to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest quality drinking water and wastewater treatment service to our customers, though we do not charge more than we absolutely must,” Moss said, adding “we encourage customers to conserve in order to mitigate the impact of the increase.” BJWSA’s rate increase will go into effect starting July 1, 2011. The change represents a five percent increase in retail rates.
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