Water Authority rate hike approved
(CNS): Water Authority – Cayman customers will be getting a bigger bill at the end of this month after the regulator approved an increase in the rate for the government-owned company, as of 1 July. So, for the last three and a half weeks people have been turning on the tap without knowing that it was costing them almost 1.5% more than it did last month. In a press release the authority said that under the new rates, the first 12 cubic metres (or 3,200 US gallons) will increase by 7¢ per m3 (from CI$4.49 to CI$4.56), and by 8¢ on each m3 thereafter (from CI$5.71 to CI$5.79).
On Cayman Brac, residential piped water customers will see an increase of 9¢ (from CI$6.12 to CI$6.21) on each m3, and trucked water customers will see an increase of 11¢ (from CI$7.66 to CI$7.77) on each m3.
Sewerage rates are based on the assessed sewerage fixture units (SFUs) for the service location in question and are calculated at a constant rate. This rate has increased from CI$1.648 to CI$1.672. The rate for septage disposal charged to septage truckers has increased from CI$16.773 per 1,000 US gallons to CI$17.018.
Water Authority Director Dr Gelia Frederick-van Genderen said the price hike was necessary for continued investment in the wastewater infrastructure.
“The country is growing and developing at a rapid pace, and the authority needs to ensure we not only keep up but also plan and build with the future in mind,” she said. “The rate adjustment is necessary to invest in our infrastructure to ensure proper and adequate operations in the years to come. Keeping tap water affordable is part of the authority’s mission, and even with this increase, the water we provide is still less than 3¢ per gallon,” she added.
The rate hike comes after OfReg, the utilities regulator, turned down an application for an increase by the private water company, Consolidated Water, though CNS understands that proposed hike would have been higher and Consolidated already charges more than the authority.
OfReg confirmed its approval, adding that the rate rise was to account for inflation and that it was less than two-thirds of what the utility applied for last year. The regulator estimated that monthly bills will increase only marginally, by around $1.50 for the average residential WAC consumer.
Gregg Anderson, OfReg Executive Director Energy and Utilities, noted that Cayman cannot provide the economies of scale that would be required for a more competitive environment in the utilities sector.
“Our job is to regulate the quality of the services provided to consumers, as well as to maintain oversight of the rates that utilities can charge, within the confines of the law. The transparent and thorough process produced a result that balances the needs of customers and the company.”
Dr Frederick-van Genderen also said the authority understands that rate increases are not something customers welcome, but she encouraged people to be more aware of their consumption patterns and monitor their usage to manage their expenses and catch leaks early.
The authority said its tap water is held to rigorous quality control guidelines and exceeds the guidelines set by the World Health Organization for drinking water quality. Its internationally-accredited laboratory conducts more than 45,000 sample tests every year to ensure that the tap water in the Cayman Islands is safe to drink.
For more information on the Water Authority and how to understand your bills, reading water meters, and conserving water and access to free water-saving shower-heads and faucet aerators visit the Water Authority website.
The most expensive place in the world to live just got more expensive. When will the public get a decrease in the highest cost of living known to man.
Less than 3 cents for a gallon of tap water and you complain yet I’m quite sure i’ll see ya walking out of Foster’s later with your 2 day supply of plastic filled with water for $18.
This is unacceptable!! The CIG giving out duty waivers left and right to developers and then WA & utilities have to install and upgrade to manage the new usage and we the residents pay for the developers sweet deal with CIG. Get your acts together or get voted out!
This is sickening! Cost of living is increasing and people are struggling to live. CUC raises their rates and now a Government owned entity – Water Authority is given the green light to drain the poor man even further without proper notice. I received my bill and it was twice the monthly average also to note the billing period was 41 days. How about some consistency with the billing dates so people that live on a budget can maintain what they can afford. Shame on you OfReg!!
CUC told us the same thing,, I.e. The bills would go up by only CI dlrs 1 point something,and my electric bill increased by over one hundred buckaroos! Please bear in mind that we do not believe a word said and I am sick and tired of increases to my budget to finance their inflated budget and salaries.
Because if you take previous bills and calculate the rate for EACH category (renewable energy, licensing etc) they are ALL up but they only announce the kWh rate being increased. Its a diversion method with them not mentioning the other rates – which all form our total bill – also increased.
The. most expensive place in the world to empty your bladder and more
I want to return to my beautiful island but news like this is keeping me away. My water bill is next to nothing where I live now. My electricity is manageable. When I lived in Cayman my electrical bill was nearly the cost of my mortgage.
These politicians are killing there own people, Bracka!
Yes and you are the fool fool Bracka that voted them in.
And we are going to vote them out. We need people in the government that helps the citizens, not people that only want to get richer!
Ofreg, was any good they would regulate the high priced of fuel ( gasoline and diesel) and get better prices.
Mr Premier, please scrap and put this OFFREG circus on the landfill. Give the employees one week to find a real job outside Government and save us some money.
We need an island wide sewer system ASAP. Infrastructure development would provide jobs and a much needed service than what’s currently in place.
$1.50 increase. My bill is twice the cost that it was before.
The increase hasn’t even been applied yet. Call WAC and ask them to check your water meter.
knock knock….here to collect caesar’s taxes….the more govt saves/ collects…the more politicians waste…e.g. board walk😢😢😢😢😴😴😴😴😴
Pricing your own citizens out of their country, nice work.
WA, have too many people hired sitting around doing very little work and collecting big pay. In the Brac they do little work installing the pipe line, in the time they started putting in pipe line, if they was working 8 hours a day, and i mean working, not fooling around for a few hours per day the whole island would be finished by now.
This is so hyprocritical it’s bound to backfire and affect Cayman Water Co customers as well! Just last week OfReg rejected CWC’s request for a rate increase but approved WAC’s request this week? The same factors should apply to WAC’s. Now when CWC appeals the rejection, OfReg will have to approve it, resulting in water rate increases throughout the island.
As I’ve said before, Government and its agencies are the biggest contributors to increased cost-of-living in Cayman!
CWC is more expensive than WAC because it’s a private company. CWC charges $18.98 per 1000 US gallons. WAC serves more customers for less…
7:37 am, in the Brac, water $30.70 for 1,000 gals water by truck, so according to you CWC is only $18.98 per 1,000 gals, so Water Authority is a lot more in the Brac
Yes, but no one cares about the Brac, because you’re the laziest and most entitled of of all of us, beating even the West Bayers. What little non-governmental activity takes place there takes place because of the civil service pay packets. Bashing bibles doesn’t pay bills. You all chased away a committed investor who built a hotel in the shrubbery and tried to get an artist convicted of obscenity for having an imagination. You can pay whatever they charge you, clearly, so carry on.
2:15 pm, you right no none cares about the Brac until another Ivan hit GC. Agreed plenty Brackers are lazy, also plenty in Grand too. Older generation Brackers was the smartest and hardest working people in the Cayman Islands, we built the Hospital (labour for free) now some of the younger ones now don’t want to work for good pay, the Govt./policitions got them spoilt
You are so mean
Ok, so we have just been listed as the most expensive place to live in the world, so why are these increases (Water Authority, CUC) being approved – where does it stop???!!! I’m literally lost for words!!!!
It’s these monopolistic utility companies that claim they need rate hikes to operate but it’s really to be MORE profitable. No wonder we’re the most expensive place to live.
Weve been #2 or #3 for years. You all just waling up!!!!
How much longer can this blatant pandering by OfReg go on? They obviously take more than they give, but what are they getting from the entities they regulate is my question.
Is WAC trying to offset the OfReg fees?
2:15 and all Brackers!
How insulting of you all over in GC. You are a flat place and I hope we welcome you and treat you nicely the next time an Ivan washes you out. The Bluff is a nice high place. You should come over for a visit. We are nice, educated people and have lots less crime and traffic congestion than you do. Can we just be nice to each other? 2:15? Who beat you up as a kid that you are so angry? Please seek help.