BUFFALO, N.Y. — If you are an Erie County Water Authority customer get ready to pay more. Rates are going up 12%.
The board approved its 2023 budget Thursday.
The increase means the average customer will pay about 10 cents more a day, averaging around $36 more per year.
"We did not anticipate, as I think no one could anticipate the effects of the pandemic," said Erie County Water Authority Chair Jarome Schad.
Schad says costs are up for them across the board, including chlorine, and electricity.
"Chlorine costs have gone up 150%," Schad said. "We're talking about millions of dollars more needed in the budget for chemicals, then our power increase has gone up 45%."
Additionally, supply chain issues are being blamed for the rate hike as well.
"There are supply chain matters where the costs of everything pipes, couplings, pumps, fittings, devices that measure water flow and chemicals are all going up to the point that contractors or vendors do not want to commit to a long-term contract," Schad said.
According to the ECWA budget, the authority plans to spend $75M in 2023 for upgrades to the water system. It's part of a 20-year, billion-dollar strategic infrastructure plan.
Schad said American Rescue Plan funding or money made available from the bipartisan infrastructure bill couldn't be used to offset the rate hike. Additional funding from the state hasn't been available either.
We had been trying for almost three years now to get extra state and federal funding, and we've not been successful," Schad said.
The new rate hike takes effect on January 1, 2023.