New Billing System Rewards Water Conservation - N.C.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Many water customers in Forsyth County will see their monthly bills decrease beginning in July thanks to a new rate structure designed to reward those who use less water.

Instead of getting billed a minimum rate regardless of how much water you use, residents who use less will pay less and those that use the most water will foot more of the bill. The change for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission customers went into effect Wednesday.

Utilities Director David Saunders said the rate change was inevitable in order to raise money needed to pay for rebuilding the Thomas Water Plant.

Once the $55 million overhaul of the plant is complete, the plant will be able to treat 18 million gallons of water pulled from Salem Lake and the Yadkin River every day. The plant it replaced was using technology from 1916.

"The commission chose to use a rate structure that rewards those who use less water and then the bulk of the cost gets spread out against the bulk of users who use most of the water," said Saunders.

According to the commission, homes with one or two people (which typically use less than 3,000 gallons a month) will see their monthly bills go down about 90 cents. The average four-person home -- which uses 3,000 to 6,000 gallons a month -- will pay about $2.10 more per month. And large industries that use between 6,000 and 12,000 gallons a month will see their bills go up about $2.40.

"That's dramatically different than the previous billing scenario where you got billed for a minimum amount of water whether you used it or not," said Saunders.

In recent years, state lawmakers have put pressure on local water authorities to do things to reward those using less water. Winston-Salem is one of the last large cities in the state to implement a conservation-based billing system.

Despite the increase to some residents' bills, Winston-Salem continues to have some of the lowest water and sewer rates in the Southeast and the lowest among North Carolina's largest cities, said Saunders.

Currently the estimated average bimonthly water and sewer bill is $90.83 in Greensboro, $86.78 in Raleigh, $91.92 in Charlotte, and $95.61 in Durham. The new average in Winston-Salem is expected to be $66.01.

via myfox8.com