After it was discovered that the city of Bainbridge Island was charging its water utility customers considerably more than surrounding utilities, the council implemented a pair of rate cuts in 2011 that totaled a 45-percent reduction.
The drop in water rates was designed to make the city’s price for water competitive with surrounding utilities.
How does Bainbridge Island compare to its neighboring water utilities?
It depends on how the numbers are considered. Base fees rise and fall from utility to utility, causing consumption rates to differ. Some organizations are also currently going through changes. Port Orchard, for example, is in the second year of a four-year rate hike. And some utilities alter rates according to season.
Here’s how the island stood before the 30-percent rate cut.
Bainbridge Island
Fee: (bimonthly)
Single family $15.39
Multifamily $7.67 per unit
Consumption (per 100 cubic feet):
$1.55 100-500 cubic feet
$2.52 600-1,200
$3.55 1,300-3,000
$4.84 more than 3,000
Kitsap Public Utility District
Fee (bimonthly):
$46.10
Consumption (per 100 cubic feet):
$.98 up to 1,400 cubic feet
$1.40 1,400 – 2,400 cubic feet
$1.76 2,401 – 4,000 cubic feet
$4.37 more than 4,000 cubic feet
Poulsbo
Fee (monthly):
$12.33 inside the city limits
$18.50 outside the city limits
Consumption:
Winter rate (October 1 – May 31)
$1.91 per 100 cubic feet inside the city limits
$2.43 per 100 cubic feet outside the city limits
Summer rate (June 1 – September 30)
$1.91 per 100 cubic feet up to 1,000
$2.98 per 100 cubic feet over 1,000
$3.56 per 100 cubic feet outside the city limits
Bremerton
Inside city limits:
Fee (bimonthly):
$20.48
Consumption (per cubic foot):
$1.23 residential
$1.34 nonresidential
Outside city limits:
Fee (bimonthly):
$30.72
Consumption (per cubic foot):
$2.66 residential
$2.40 nonresidential
Port Orchard
Fee (bimonthly):
$26.50 for up to 3,000 gallons consumed
$38.50 for 3,001-5,00 gallons consumed
Consumption (in excess of 5,000 gallons):
$2.10 per 1,000 gallons for 5,001-30,000 gallons
$2.20 per 1,000 gallons for 30,001-50,000 gallons
$2.30 per 1,000 gallons for 50,001-100,000 gallons
