Approved FY 2023 and FY 2024 Rates

Approved rate changes for fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024, beginning October 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023, respectively.

This is the fourth time that DC Water presented a multi-year rate proposal covering the period of FY 2023 and FY 2024. The projected benefits include (1) greater revenue certainty, (2) increased budget discipline, (3) better alignment between revenues and expenditures, (4) favorable credit rating agency treatment and (5) better predictability for our ratepayers.

DC Water has aligned Cost of Service Studies to its two-year rate proposals.  To help ensure that costs are being properly recovered (water costs are recovered through the water rates, for example), DC Water conducts regular Cost of Service Studies.  Previously the studies were done every three years, but from 2020 DC Water began conducting two year Cost of Service Studies to fully align the costs with the two year rate proposals.

DC Water held multiple virtual Town Hall Meetings in early April, in advance of the public hearing. The outreach and public comment period was from March 18 to May 16, 2022.

Below are the approved rates for Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2024.  DC Water’s Board of Directors held its annual public hearing on the proposed rate changes on May 11, 2022, at the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Headquarters to hear testimony from customers and presentation on Independent Review of Proposed FY 2023 and FY 2024 Rates by an Independent Rate Consultant.  The Board considered the customer's comments and voted on the following rate changes at the Board meeting held on Thursday July 7, 2022.

Click here to view current Rate Making Process

FY 2023 and FY 2024 Approved Rates

Fig. 1 in Ccf and equivalent gallons1 Ccf = 748 gallons
 

FY 2022    
(Effective 10/1/2021)

Approved    
FY 2023    
(Effective 10/1/2022)

Approved    
FY 2024    
(Effective 10/1/2023)  

Rate Class Ccf 1,000    
Gallons
Ccf 1,000    
Gallons
Ccf 1,000    
Gallons
Water Rate            
  Residential - 0 - 4 Ccf $3.63 $4.85 $4.28 $5.72 $4.38 $5.86
  Residential - greater than 4 Ccf $4.74 $6.34 $5.58 $7.46 $5.70 $7.62
  Multi-Family $4.15 $5.55 $4.90 $6.55 $5.00 $6.68
  Non-Residential $4.91 $6.56 $5.78 $7.73 $5.89 $7.87
Sewer Rate            
  Residential $10.64 $14.22 $11.26 $15.05 $11.70 $15.64
  Multi-Family $10.64 $14.22 $11.26 $15.05 $11.70 $15.64
  Non-Residential $10.64 $14.22 $11.26 $15.05 $11.70 $15.64
PILOT (Payment-In-Lieu Of Taxes) Fee*            
  Residential $0.56 $0.75 $0.59 $0.79 $0.61 $0.82
  Multi-Family $0.56 $0.75 $0.59 $0.79 $0.61 $0.82
  Non-Residential $0.56 $0.75 $0.59 $0.79 $0.61 $0.82

The Right-of-Way (ROW) Fee*

           
  Residential $0.19 $0.25 $0.19 $0.25 $0.19 $0.25
  Multi-Family $0.19 $0.25 $0.19 $0.25 $0.19 $0.25
  Non-Residential $0.19 $0.25 $0.19 $0.25 $0.19 $0.25
Groundwater Sewer Charge            
  Residential $2.83 $3.78 $3.42 $4.57 $3.50 $4.68
  Multi-Family $2.83 $3.78 $3.42 $4.57 $3.50 $4.68
  Non-Residential $2.83 $3.78 $3.42 $4.57 $3.50 $4.68
High Flow Filter Backwash Wastewater Retail Sewer Rate            
Residential $3.03 $4.05 $3.21 $4.29 $3.30 $4.41
Multi-Family $3.03 $4.05 $3.21 $4.29 $3.30 $4.41
Non-Residential $3.03 $4.05 $3.21 $4.29 $3.30 $4.41
             
Clean Rivers  Impervious Area Charge  

per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit)

  Residential $18.40 $18.14 $21.86
  Multi-Family $18.40 $18.14 $21.86
  Non-Residential $18.40 $18.14 $21.86
Customer Metering Fee

By Meter Size

  Residential**

$7.75 $7.75 $7.75
  Multi-family

vary by meter size

  Non-Residential

vary by meter size

Water System Replacement Fee

By Meter Size

 Residential**

$6.30 $6.30 $6.30
  Multi-family

vary by meter size

  Non-Residential

vary by meter size

Stormwater Fee***

per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit)

  Residential $2.67 $2.67 $2.67
  Multi-Family $2.67 $2.67 $2.67
  Non-Residential $2.67 $2.67 $2.67

* District of Columbia pass-through fees

** For 5/8" meter size

*** DC Water bills and collects the Stormwater Fee on behalf of the District Government

 

 

Fig. 2 Average Monthly Residential Water and Sewer Bills for FY 2023 and FY 2024*
  Current FY 2022  Approved    
FY 2023 
Approved    
FY 2024 ††
DC Water Retail Rates* $78.92 $86.07 $89.03
Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge $18.40 $18.14 $21.86
DC Water Customer Metering Fee** $7.75 $7.75 $7.75
DC Water Water System Replacement Fee*** $6.30 $6.30 $6.30
Subtotal: DC Water Rates & Charges $111.37 $118.26 $124.94
Increase Over Prior Year $7.29 $6.89 $6.68
District of Columbia PILOT Fee ††† $3.04 $3.20 $3.31
District of Columbia Right-of-Way Fee ††† $1.03 $1.03 $1.03
District of Columbia Stormwater Fee ††† $2.67 $2.67 $2.67
Subtotal: District of Columbia Charges $6.74 $6.90 $7.01
Total Amount Appearing on DC Water Bill $118.11 $125.16 $131.95
Increase Over Prior Year $7.40 $7.05 $6.79
 FY 2023 is effective from October 1, 2022    
†† FY 2024 will be effective October 1, 2023    
†††  DC Water bills and collects the PILOT, ROW, and Stormwater fees on behalf of the District.    

* Assumes average monthly consumption of 5.42 Ccf or 4,054 gallons.    
** The DC Water Customer Metering Fee varies by meter size. The fee for 5/8" meter given here.    
*** The DC Water System Replacement Fee varies by meter size. The fee for 5/8" meter given here.