BHC approves more than $7K increase to water service line installation fees (May 25, 2024)
The recently approved Bullhead City comprehensive fee schedule mostly saw minor chances to its fees and services — except for one utilities item.
Under the new fee schedule, Installing a water/wastewater service line through the city will cost $7,600 for meter sizes up to two inches and at-cost for any larger meter size.
Previously, service line Installations ranged herween $370 and $745 for meter sizes three inches and below, depending on the size of the meter.
It is the first time the service line installation fees have been changed since the city acquired EPCOR’s water utilities operations in Bullhead City in 2022.
When we first took over the water company, we brought over all of EPCOR’s fees for everything. We didn’t change anything
Utilities Director Mark Clark said.
Clark said the city didn’t change the utilities fees for the past two years in order to maintain stability in services provided.
However, EPCOR’s low service line fees for the customer have been expensive for the city. The new rates are meant to reflect the actual cost of installing service lines.
EPCOR was using existing customers to subsidize the cost for a new customer coming online. We believe that shouldn’t happen,
Clark said.
Mayor Steve D’Amico agreed that the city shouldn’t be passing expenses on to existing water customers; new customers need to pay their way.
Service line installations include tearing up asphalt in a roadway, digging into the street, connecting to the water main and fixing the street again afterward.
The new fees won’t impact existing customers, Clark said, and only rarely occur in the first place — such as when a parcel ot land is subdivided or a new meter is added to a duplex.
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Source: Fred Mayson, mohavedailynews.com/news/bullhead-city-approves-more-than-7-000-increase-to-water-service-line-installation-fees/article_154f8466-196f-11ef-9f4b-67ad433f2eed.html