Paris, Tenn.–The Paris Board of Public Utilities will decide at its April meeting whether to approve a proposal for a wate rate increase.
At Tuesday’s BPU meeting, CEO Terry Wimberley presented the proposal, which if adopted, would be effective July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024.
Water rates have not seen an increase since July 2019, he said.
The proposed rates would increase bills to the average water user by at total of $5.50 per month. Wimberley informed the board that increased revenues are needed in the water department to fund debt service on a future USDA Rural Development loan that will address aging water infrastructure in the distribution system. The added revenues will also build cash reserves while also addressing increased operation and maintenance costs due to recent inflation.
No action was taken on the rate proposal. The board is expected to make a decision on the rates at the April meeting.
In his President’s report, Wimberley shared information about the March 3 wind storm that impacted many customers. Initially, 17,000 of 22,000 customers were without power. Restoration efforts covered five days and included the help of 8-9 additional crews each of those days. Wimberley estimated the total cost of the storm to be around $800,000.