Geneva’s water and sewer customers should take note that scheduled rate increases will occur starting Monday, May 15.
The Geneva City Council approved a five-year rate plan April 3 to pay for upcoming water main and lead service line replacement, a sanitary line crossing the Fox River, Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades, and other water-related capital projects. The plan calls for 7.5% rate adjustments during the first two years followed by 5% in each of the remaining three years.
A residential water user (700 cubic feet per month) will see an annual average increase of $5 per month through April 2028. A household with a larger family or who uses more water during the summer (2,000 cubic feet per month) would pay about $12 more per month on average.
The City’s last five-year water rate plan was implemented in 2016. Rates have remained unchanged for the past several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A full rate breakdown is available on the City’s website at www.geneva.il.us. For more information about rates and capital projects, call the Geneva Public Works Department Water Division at 630-232-1551.
Other Utility Changes
Outside of the water rates, the Geneva City Council also approved several other utility bill changes.
The City no longer requires utility deposits from new customers to establish water and electric service. In the past, the City refunded the deposit money – $200 for residents and $500 for businesses – after the completion of two years of satisfactory payment history. Customers who have an existing deposit with the City will automatically receive a credit on their May utility bill.
Effective in April, customers will only be able to waive one utility bill penalty per calendar year.
The City will be assessing cross-connection fees monthly as opposed to annually to customers who have lawn irrigation, fire suppression systems or other backflow devices. Instead of an annual fee, customers will now be assessed $2 per month.
Utility bill questions can be directed to the City’s Finance Department by calling 630-232-0854.