City utilities considering sewer rate increase request

Columbus City Hall exterior is shown in this Republic file photo. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus City Utilities is preparing to start a rate study of its sewer utility and looking to potentially raise the sewer rate in 2021 for city customers.

The current rate for 4,000 gallons a month usage is $31.10.

Utilities Executive Director Scott Dompke said that the rate study will be completed by the Baker Tilly consulting firm, which also completed a cost of service study for the city’s water utility. The city’s request for a water rate increase is currently being reviewed by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and, if approved, could take effect in August 2021.

However, Dompke said that the city’s sewer utility is not regulated by the IURC. As a result, sewer rate increase would not need to go through the commission’s lengthy approval process. Instead, it would need to be approved by the utilities board and Columbus City Council, with the latter requiring two readings before final approval.

“It’s not nearly as formal as the water rate case, because the regulatory commission is not involved, but we will effectively do the same kinds of analyses as were done,” Dompke said.

For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.