Politics & Government

Marietta Water, Power Utility Rates Increase

In spite of planned utility rate increases, Marietta Power and Water said its customers will have lower electric rates than competitors.

Because of rising utility costs, beginning Jan. 1, customers will notice an increase in their power, water and sewer rates. approved the increases Dec. 16 after receiving recommendations from the Board of Lights and Water board of directors.

Monthly change for average customer:

  • Power: 4.7 percent or $4.01
  • Water: 3 percent or $1.26
  • Sewer: 1 percent or 29 cents

Why rates are increasing:

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  • Increase in wholesale cost of electricity, water and sewer services from the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Cobb-Marietta Water Authority and Cobb County Water System because of  environmental regulations, increasing costs of compliance and fuel and operating costs.
  • Electricity cost increases: $6.6 million or 6.2 percent increase in utility’s purchased power adjustment.

"Realizing that many of our ratepayers are experiencing other hardships in these tough economic times, the governing bodies worked together to find an alternative solution," Marietta Power and Water general manager Bob Lewis said in a news release.

"Dec. 16, they approved a plan to absorb $1.6 million of the increased costs internally through the use of surplus reserves, bringing the PPA increase down from $6.6 million to $5 million," Lewis said. "In spite of these planned utility rate increases, Marietta Power and Water customers continue to have lower electric rates than those of other local providers Georgia Power and ."

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