Tacoma Public Utilities proposes rate increase

TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma power and water customers might see an increase in their bills if a proposed rate increase is approved.

On Tuesday, Tacoma Public Utilities presented the proposal to Tacoma’s Government Performance and Finance Committee.

“(It’s) not surprising that the utilities, like households and other businesses, are facing inflationary pressures on the costs. As a result, we’re bringing some rate proposals (on Tuesday). Those rates will be below the rates of inflation,” said TPU’s deputy director of administration, Jim Sant.

TPU serves more than 181,000 customers across Tacoma, University Place, Fircrest, Fife, Steilacoom, Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as well as part of unincorporated Pierce County.

The proposed rate adjustments are an overall average 3.5% increase for 2023 and 2024 but residential customers could see a rate increase of 4.2%.

Officials with the utility say managing lower rate increases now could prevent massive rate spikes in the years to come.

If there is a rate hike, measures will be put in place to help people who have trouble paying their utility bills, according to the presentation made on Tuesday.

TPU said the average monthly bill for a residential customer would go up $3.70 a month. The average bill would be a little more than $100.

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