City residents’ utility bills increase
7/6/2023, 6 p.m.
Effective with the July bills, Richmond residents will be charged at least $8.70 more per month for public utilities, including water, sewer service, natural gas and stormwater controls.
The Department of Public Utilities issued advance notice of the increase in utility bills that result from changes City Council approved in the new 2023-24 budget that went into effect July 1.
The Department noted that the cost of natural gas will rise 3.3% or about $2.24 a month to pay for the increased costs of operations and distribution of the gas to homes.
Water service is expected to increase a minimum of $1.55 a month to cover higher costs of operations and distribution, while sewer service will increase at least $4.40 a month, according to the department.
The stormwater charge will rise a minimum of 51 cents a month, the department stated. The increases are needed to ensure “effective and consistent delivery of services,” stated April Bingham, utilities director. She added that the department has at least two programs aimed at assisting customers experiencing financial hardships.
