HOPE – A two-phase rate increase over the next few years appears to be likely for customers of Eastern Bartholomew Water Co.
For residents of Hope, it will be second time in as many years where the monthly water bill has gone up.
Details stemming from a tentative settlement agreement reached Aug. 23 between the Taylorsville-based utility and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor were outlined Tuesday to the Hope Town Council.
While Eastern Bartholomew had originally requested a 48-percent increase, the settlement calls for a two-phase increase resulting in a total 37.4 percent rate hike, Hope Town Manager J.T. Doane told the council.
The first increase of 27.8 percent could go into effect as early as December, Doane said. For a household using 5,000 gallons of water a month, that will mean an additional $10.65 on each monthly bill, according to rates quoted by Doane.
The second phase, which calls for an additional 9.6-percent rate hike, is scheduled to go into effect in Jan., 2019, the town manager said.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
