The water and sewer rate structure of Patrick County Public Safety Authority (PSA) customers will change, the Public Service Authority determined at its July meeting.
PSA Director and Combined Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Administrator Mark Vernon said the change was in response to the previous “one-size fits all” rate policy.
“The previous structure had one rate for every size water meter, and what the board has approached now is structuring rates based on the sizes of water meters,” he said.
With the change, Vernon said the PSA can have water meters of different sizes, depending on the type of service connection, ranging from three-quarter inches to three inches.
“So, a typical home would have a three-quarter inch service to that house, and of course if you get up to industrial or commercial customers, their water needs increase. So, the size of their water service, or meter, goes up so they can be supplied more water,” he said.
Vernon said the vast majority of rates for residential customers will stay the same.
“A typical home will not see a rate increase. There will be a few customers that have larger meters that will have increased rates,” he said, adding the larger users will likely see water and sewer rates increase.
Vernon declined to give a percentage of increase, because he said it will vary, depending on the size of the meter.
Town of Stuart Manager Bryce Simmons said meters that are one inch and higher will have a new water and sewer rate. He estimated that about eight customers will see an increase from the PSA rates.
The town’s PSA department reads meters and performs other services for the county’s PSA department.
Simmons said the lowest rate for residential in town customers is $39.69. The current out of town minimum base rate is $51.52.
“The base rate will not change for residential customers,” he said.
Customers will see the policy change reflected on their September bill.
The next scheduled meeting is set for October 25.
