(Spencer)—Spencer Municipal Utilities water and electric customers will soon be paying more. SMU trustees have approved rate increases that will go into effect this coming June 1st.
Water customers will see their monthly customer charge increase to $15.00 a month per service address. The water usage rate will increase to $3.50 per 1,000 gallons no matter how many gallons are used. Customers who have outside water that is metered separately will see the rate increase to $4.50 per 1,000 gallons.
SMU’s residential electric customers will see their meter charge increase to $11.25 a month. Usage rates will also be going up, amounting to about 13 and-a-half cents more per day for the typical residential electric customer. Commercial customers will see a five percent increase.
SMU officials say the increases are needed to keep up with maintenance costs and for an upgrade of the water treatment plant. They say water rates haven’t been raised since 2012 and electric rates have remained steady since the spring of 2011.
