TACOMA, Wash. — More than 300,000 people could soon pay more on their utility bills.
Tacoma Public Utilities is proposing to increase their rates for 2025 and 2026.
The Utility said on average, residential customers would see a 6.5% increase in their power bills in 2025, and another 6.5% increase in 2026. For water bills, it would be a 6.3% increase in 2025 and another 6.3% increase in 2026.
If the Tacoma City Council approves the increases in its budget in November, the average residential customer should expect to pay around $7 more per month for power and around $3 to $3.50 more per month for water, depending on where they live.
Water rate increases would happen in January 2025 and power rate increases would happen in April 2025, according to Tacoma Public Utilities.
Tacoma Public Utilities increased rates this year and last year by around 3.5%.
A spokesperson for Tacoma Public Utilities said the increases are needed to keep up with the increasing cost of insurance, supplies, and maintenance.
“Transformers, which we use to provide electricity, have gone up almost 300% since 2019, and that's because of supply chain challenges and inflation,” said Jessica Wilson, Tacoma Public Utilities public information officer. “We need to be able to pay those dollars to continue to provide safe, reliable service.”
She said the utility knows that rate increases can be hard and that they have programs to help.
“Not as many customers that qualify have signed up, so we're really trying to get the word out and help customers,” Wilson said.
KING 5 asked Tacoma Public Utilities customers what they thought about the proposed increases.
“My property taxes are going up, utilities are more expensive, etc.,” said Rebekah Macneill, a Tacoma resident. “So, it's not just what I buy at the grocery store being more expensive, it’s like every single thing is more expensive. And paychecks are certainly not going up 6%, I guess it just kind of feels overwhelming.”
“It seems reasonable to me, probably their expenses are going up,” said Hans Ostrom, a Tacoma resident. “And it's not a super dramatic rising cost, so we're okay with it.”
Residents are able to give public comments online. There will also be a meeting where people can give public comment on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Utilities headquarters.
The Tacoma City Council will have the final say on approving the rate increases in November when it finalizes the budget.