Utility Rates to Increase in 2014

Customers will soon see an increase on their utility bills from the Village in the following areas: 

Water Rate

Beginning with bills distributed after March 1, 2014, the new bi-monthly rates for water usage and the fixed charge by water meter size will be as follows:

Factors Affecting Water Rates

The DuPage Water Commission (DWC) purchases Lake Michigan Water from the City of Chicago and in turn, distributes and sells it to member communities, including Downers Grove. The price increase that Downers Grove customers will pay also include increases in the rates charged by the DuPage Water Commission (DWC), which announced a series of rate increases that became effective January 1, 2012. The price increase from the DWC reflects a pass-through of the City of Chicago water rate increases as well as increases for DWC existing debt service payments and planned capital improvements. Part of the increase will also reflect the continued implementation of recommendations from Downers Grove's 2010 Water Rate Study.

The table below shows how the new water rates will impact a typical user:

Providing clean, safe and reliable drinking water is a fundamental Village service. Despite the unforeseen and substantial increases in water rates by the City of Chicago, it is important to continue implementation of the 2010 Water Rate Study recommendations to ensure the on-going viability of Downers Grove's water system.

Stormwater Utility Rate

The new stormwater rate that will go into effect for bills received after January 1, 2014 is as follows:

Stormwater rates will increase to align with the recommendations of the 2012 Stormwater Study, which created the plan for the implementation of the stormwater utility in 2013. The stormwater fee covers the cost of future 
capital projects, debt service related to those projects, as well as operational and maintenance costs. These stormwater management costs are now fully shifted away from the property tax levy. The following table shows how the new stormwater rates will impact a single family residence, an average commercial user and an average industrial user in 2014.