Utility rates in Brainerd will increase starting today.
The rate changes, to be reflected in property owners' November utility bill, will be as follows:
• Residential electric rates will increase from $10 a month plus 0.0549 cents per kilowatt hour to $11 a month plus 0.0604 cents per kilowatt hour.
• Commercial (general service) electric rates will increase from $17 a month plus 0.0554 cents per kilowatt hour to $19 a month plus 0.0609 cents per kilowatt hour.
• Water rates will increase from $9.50 to $11 for 5/8- and 3/4-inch pipe, from $28 to $34 for 1-inch pipe, from $43 to $52 for 1-1/2-inch pipe, from $75 to $95 for 2-inch pipe, from $130 to $155 for 3-inch pipe, from $215 to $240 for 4-inch pipe, from $355 to $380 for 6-inch pipe and from $710 to $730 for 8-inch pipe.
• Wastewater rates, which include a debt service charge for the wastewater treatment facility expansion, will increase from $9.50 to $10 for 5/8- and 3/4-inch pipe, $12.50 to $13 for 1-inch pipe and $17.50 to $18 for 1-1/2-inch pipe. For 2-inch through 8-inch pipe, the wastewater rates will stay the same.
• Commodity charges will increase from $1.55 to $1.65 per 1,000 gallons of water used and $2.10 to $2.15 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater used.
Tom Phelps, Brainerd Public Utilities superintendent, said the rate increases are due to increases from Minnesota Power, from which the city buys electricity; and for capital improvement projects, which the utility spends about $1 million a year for electric projects and $500,000 a year for water.
"We're always updating our systems," Phelps said. "That's why we have a long-range plan for each division."
Brainerd Public Utilities Commission member Don Samuelson said the commission has been discussing the rates for the past two months and the vote for the rate increases was unanimous.
Samuelson also noted the increase was in part due to the higher cost of buying power from Minnesota Power.
"We can't do much about that," Samuelson said.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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