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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">August 20, 2024</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Matt Nestor
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />City of Columbia Utilities
<br />573.874.7307
<br />Matthew.Nestor@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City Council approves water rate increase which goes into effect in October</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the Aug. 19, 2024, Council meeting, the Columbia City Council approved an increase for Water Utility rates across all residential and commercial customer tiers that will allow the Utility to maintain adequate cash reserves and meet the Utility’s debt coverage requirements. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new rate structure will take effect with the first billing cycle in October. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Residential customers’ base charge will increase from $12 to $12.48 per month. The commercial customer base charge for water is based on the size of the water meter. These rates can be found on the </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://como.gov/utilities/utility-rates"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Utility Rates web page</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Residents can estimate their water utility bill based on the approved rate structure by using the City’s interactive </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiYTcxNThlYzktZWNjYi00NTJiLWJmNzgtODJjZmM2OGZjMDFhIiwidCI6ImM5MzMwZTA2LTY4YTAtNDE3NC04NGE5LTI3MWIwZDViODgxMiJ9"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Water Bill Calculator</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For information on how to use the tool, please see the </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Water-Bill-Calculator-Instructions.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Water User Calculator Manual</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Water usage fees are measured in hundred cubic feet (ccf). All Tier 1 water usage will increase 12 cents to $3.22 per ccf.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summer water rates (June through September) are based on the customer’s winter average consumption, which is determined by usage in January, February and March. </span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tier 1, 0 - 70% of winter average consumption</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tier 2, 71 - 170% of winter average consumption</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tier 3, usage exceeding 170% of winter average consumption</span></li>
</ul>
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<table style="width: 337.75px;">
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<p><strong>Water rate structure</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Effective 10/01/2024)</strong></p>
</th>
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<th style="width: 150px;"> </th>
<th style="width: 72px;">
<p><strong>Current</strong></p>
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<th style="width: 89.75px;">
<p><strong>Approved</strong></p>
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<th style="width: 150px;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Base Fees</strong></p>
</th>
<th style="width: 72px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">$12.00</span></p>
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<th style="width: 89.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">$12.48</span></p>
</th>
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<th style="width: 150px;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Usage Fees: (per ccf)</strong></p>
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<th style="width: 72px;"> </th>
<th style="width: 89.75px;"> </th>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tier 1</span></p>
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<th style="width: 72px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">$3.10</span></p>
</th>
<th style="width: 89.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">$3.22</span></p>
</th>
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<th style="width: 150px;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Airport</span></p>
</th>
<th style="width: 72px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">$4.46</span></p>
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<th style="width: 89.75px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">$4.66</span></p>
</th>
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<td style="width: 150px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summer Tier 2</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 72px;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$4.25</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 89.75px;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$4.44</span></p>
</td>
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<td style="width: 150px;">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summer Tier 3</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 72px;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$6.26</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 89.75px;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$6.89</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Irrigation Summer</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 72px;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$6.26</span></p>
</td>
<td style="width: 89.75px;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">$6.89</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional information on water rates for all residential and commercial tiers can be found at </span><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="http://como.gov/utilities/utility-rates"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CoMo.gov/utilities/utility-rates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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