MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Utility rates to soar after Seattle City Council approves hike

Aug 12, 2014, 9:53 AM | Updated: 3:31 pm

The rates will keep climbing after the council approved increases that will average just under five...

The rates will keep climbing after the council approved increases that will average just under five percent a year, over the next six years. (Photo via CC)

(Photo via CC)

Wallets in Seattle are going to be a lot lighter over the next six years as the City Council just approved increases in utility rates.

The typical combined bill for utilities in Seattle has already gone up 96 percent in the last decade.

The rates will keep climbing after the council approved increases that will average just under five percent a year, over the next six years.

According to The Seattle Times, that equals an increase of about $15 each year, taking the average bimonthly bill to over $400 by 2020.

The council said the increases are necessary to pay for improvements to the sewer system and wastewater treatment.

Rates had been going up by about seven percent a year over the last six years.

Correction on Aug. 12:

An earlier version of this story erroneously reported the average monthly bill at over $400 when in fact, it’s bimonthly.

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