Water Rate Study: What I Asked For and What's Next
I requested a full water rate structure analysis from city staff at the last meeting. Here's what that means, what data I'm expecting, and the timeline for a public discussion.
At the March 3 council meeting, I put forward a formal request for city staff to start a rate structure analysis for Pflugerville's water and wastewater utility system.
What I requested
A rate structure analysis looks at how the current bill is built: the ratio of fixed monthly fees to consumption-based charges, benchmarked against peer cities in Central Texas. Pflugerville has a higher proportion of fixed base fees than most comparable cities. Low-use households, seniors, and single adults end up paying a disproportionate share of the total cost relative to what they actually use.
The analysis I'm asking for would:
- Benchmark our rate structure against Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Kyle
- Model what a consumption-heavier structure would look like for different household types
- Identify the revenue neutrality constraints (what we can and can't change without affecting debt service coverage)
- Estimate the impact of impact fee reform on future ratepayer costs
What this doesn't mean yet
A rate structure analysis doesn't automatically produce lower bills. It produces information. What council does with that information is the next step. I'm requesting the analysis now because the data has to come before the decision, and we shouldn't set long-term rate policy without it.
Related: see the priority on lower water bills, read the water and utility bill FAQ, or share your experience with your water bill.
What I’ve done on this
I formally requested this analysis to get real numbers on the table before any rate decision: benchmarking our fixed-versus-variable structure against peer cities, modeling what a consumption-heavier approach would look like for different household types, and identifying the constraints the city actually faces given its debt service obligations. I want what's technically required separated from what's a policy choice, and those tradeoffs visible before any vote.
Questions about this issue?
Reach out directly or keep reading the council updates for the bigger picture.