Denver Water customers are getting hit with another nudge upward on their monthly bills this year, a change officials insist is modest but that most households will still notice when the statement lands in the mailbox.
According to Denver Water, the new rate schedule, adopted by the utility's board last fall, took effect Jan. 1. For most single-family customers with a 3/4-inch meter, the fixed monthly charge is rising by $1.85, to $20.91. When you factor in volume-rate adjustments across Denver Water's three usage tiers, the utility says a typical single-family household that uses about 104,000 gallons a year will see an average increase of roughly $2.45 to $3.30 per month.
Denver7 highlighted a handful of ways customers can push their bills in the opposite direction. The outlet notes the utility urges people to check for and repair leaks, upgrade to water-efficient appliances and smart irrigation controllers, and rip out thirsty turf in favor of drought-resistant ColoradoScapes landscaping. The station also points out that Denver Water offers a one-time payment-assistance program for qualifying customers who need help covering a bill.
In coverage of the new rates, Denver7 reported that Denver Water spokesperson Jimmy Luthye described the change as "slight" and stressed that actual bills will vary based on seasonal water use and whether a customer lives inside the city of Denver or in one of the suburban distributor districts.
The utility adds that a typical single-family customer could end up paying around $40 more over the course of a year under the new structure, according to Denver Water.
What the increase will pay for
As outlined by Denver Water, the latest adjustment is part of a plan to help cover roughly $1.7 billion in projects over the next decade. That spending includes the Gross Reservoir expansion to boost storage capacity, the Lead Reduction Program that swaps out customer-owned lead service lines at no direct cost to those customers, and an ongoing pipe-replacement effort to modernize hundreds of miles of aging water mains.
How to keep your bill down
Alongside rate coverage, Denver7 gathered Denver Water's practical tips for trimming usage and softening the blow of higher charges. The advice is pretty straightforward but can add up: fix leaks promptly, install water-efficient appliances and irrigation controllers, and replace high-maintenance lawns with more drought-tolerant ColoradoScapes. For residents struggling to pay, the station notes that Denver Water offers a one-time payment-assistance option for those who qualify.
The board approved the new rates in October, and the increase kicked in at the start of the year, as part of a multi-year plan to maintain service for roughly 1.5 million people, about a quarter of Colorado's population, according to local reporting. For customers with questions, Denver Water and local outlets advise reviewing the detailed rate tables and reaching out to the utility's customer service team for personalized bill estimates and information about assistance programs.
