Water Bill Increases for NJ Residents

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) today approved a settlement between New Jersey American Water and the N.J. Division of Rate Counsel, BPU Staff, and several intervenors for new water and wastewater rates for New Jersey American Water.

The approved rates represent a total annualized revenue increase of approximately $45.5 million.

The company’s rate request was filed on January 14, 2022, and was primarily driven by more than $985 million in infrastructure investment in treatment systems and distribution upgrades since its last rate filing.

The new rates will go into effect on September 1, 2022.

With the approved rate increase, the monthly bill for an average water customer using 5,520 gallons will increase by approximately $2.93, and the monthly bill for an average wastewater customer will increase by approximately $3.74.

With the new rates, the cost of high-quality, reliable, water and wastewater service continues to be about one penny per gallon and remains among the lowest of all household utility bills.

“We are proud of the level of investment we are able to make into our systems to continue to provide high-quality, reliable service, even through extreme weather and other challenges including the pandemic, while maximizing efficiencies to balance the impact to customers,” said Mark McDonough, President, New Jersey American Water.

Customers will receive information about the new rates in their next New Jersey American Water bill. This information will also be available on the company’s website at www.newjerseyamwater.com under Customer Service & Billing, Your Water and Wastewater Rates, or by calling 800-272-1325, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

New Jersey American Water also wants to remind its customers about the variety of bill-paying assistance programs that are available.

Customers who are having difficulty paying their water and/or wastewater bills are encouraged to arrange for payment arrangements or budget billing directly through the MyWater customer portal or by calling the company’s Customer Service Center at 800-272-1325.

Customers who meet low-income requirements may also apply for assistance through the company’s H2O Help to Others program, which provides water and wastewater service charge discounts of up to 100 percent.

Additionally, customers who are behind on their bills may also qualify for the new LIHWAP program, administered by the N.J. Department of Community Affairs.

More information about all of these programs can be found at www.newjerseyamwater.com under Customer Service & Billing, Bill Paying Assistance.

What do you think about the newly increased rates on your water bill? Let us know in the comments!

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