Water bills in far East Montana could be getting pricier, with El Paso County commissioners set to weigh a proposal that would bump up rates in 2026 and nudge the typical monthly bill into the mid‑$140s.
Under the plan, water rates would climb about 10% and sewer rates roughly 5%, with the changes slated to kick in Oct. 1. A household using 8,000 gallons of water and 5,000 gallons of wastewater a month would see its combined bill rise from about $134 to about $144, a roughly $10 jump. County staff says the increases are meant to keep up with inflation, higher wholesale water costs and ongoing repair work, while also helping pay for a planned storage tank and other capital projects.
Proposed rates and county financial plan
As laid out in the county's rate review presentation, shared publicly by KFOX, the recommendation would move the monthly base water rate from $46.15 to $50.77 and the sewer base from $45.72 to $48.01. Tiered volume charges would also increase, with tables in the presentation spelling out the new numbers.
Those tweaks add up to the roughly $10 monthly bump for a typical customer, according to the presentation, which lists the effective date as Oct. 1, 2026. It cites inflation, wholesale water rates, repair and replacement needs, and slower‑than‑expected new hookups in parts of the service area as the main drivers behind the recommended increases.
Who supplies the system
El Paso Water provides treated water to the East Montana system on a wholesale basis and has worked with the county on operations and potential management arrangements in the past, according to El Paso Water Public Service Board materials. Those public‑service materials say EPWater can recommend operational structures, while ownership of the system would remain with the county unless there is a formal transfer.
That wholesale relationship is a key cost input in the county’s rate model and a significant factor behind the suggested hikes. In plain terms, when the bulk water price moves, the local bill eventually follows.
Commissioners' timeline
The rate item is on the agenda for the Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, July 27, where commissioners are expected to discuss and may vote on the proposal, according to KFOX. If they sign off, the county would move ahead with the FY 2027 rate schedule outlined in the presentation.
Tank project and funding
The county’s presentation flags a $6 million, 1‑million‑gallon elevated tank as a major capital need for the East Montana system. It notes the county has about $1.1 million in award funding in hand and is seeking another $1.6 million to fully cover the project.
Congressional appropriations documents list a $1,092,000 STAG drinking‑water allocation for an East Montana water tower project, which lines up with that federal support (House Appropriations Committee). County materials caution that the tank and related improvements could be delayed if the extra grant money does not come through.
Where to follow the meeting
Residents who want to watch the debate over their future water bills can follow Commissioners Court and review archived agendas and backup documents on the county’s meeting pages. El Paso County posts video recordings on its El Paso County site and agendas on NovusAgenda, where the East Montana rate item is scheduled to appear on the July 27 docket.
