Tighe & Bond publishes 2017 Mass. water & sewer rate surveys

Westfield, MA Tighe & Bond published the results of its most recent Mass. Water and Sewer Rate Survey. Since 1997, Tighe & Bond has gathered and published Mass. water and sewer user rates data that municipal government and private water suppliers can use as a benchmarking tool for comparing their rates against other suppliers in the state.

The survey, conducted across the state during 2017, includes typical annual homeowner water and sewer costs for most systems throughout Massachusetts. It also provides information regarding rate structures and billing cycles. This can be particularly useful information when suppliers are considering adjustments to their current rates or rate structures.

What’s New This Year
Tighe & Bond is now teaming with the Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina School of Government to present the results of the firm’s rate study using a free, online rates dashboard developed, hosted and maintained by the Center. This gives users more flexibility in examining the survey data. Users can adjust the assumed annual usage that the comparison is based on, review conservation and affordability metrics, as well as compare annual bills. They can also compare rates by utility size, river basin, geographic area, and median household income.

Survey Results
The 2017 water survey indicates that annual water costs in in Massachusetts range from a low of $123 to a high of $2,025. The 2017 average is $595, and the median is $568.  Sixty-five percent of survey respondents have increased their rates since our 2014 survey.

The 2017 sewer survey indicates that annual sewer costs in in Massachusetts range from a low of $229 to a high of $2,316.  The 2017 average is $862, and the median is $838.  Three-quarters of survey respondents have increased their rates since our 2014 survey.

Anyone can access the online rates dashboard, or request a copy of these survey results, by visiting https://www.tighebond.com/category/rate-surveys.