Explanation of Utility Rates

Summary of Utility Rate Changes for 2023
 

Water Rates

Water Consumption Rates:
White Bear Lake’s municipal water service involves the operation, maintenance, and repair of all facilities necessary for the production, storage, treatment and distribution of water. The usage rates listed below generate revenue for operating costs. Your winter quarter consumption sets the “base” consumption for the year. The non-winter conservation rate applies to the water consumption above the “base” level for the other three quarterly billing cycles during the year. The conversion from gallons to billing units remains the same at:

1 unit = 750 gallons.

Water Infrastructure Fee:  The Water Infrastructure fee generates revenues for future capital improvement investments.

State Water Testing Fee: The State’s annual water testing fee is $9.72 for 2023, which is $2.43 each quarter. The City collects this fee on the quarterly utility bills and submits the funds directly to the State. The City does not set the rate nor keep any of the funds. 

Sewer Rates

The City’s sanitary sewer service provides for the collection and conveyance of wastewater from your home or business to the regional treatment plant. The regional treatment plant, owned by Metropolitan Council Environment Services (MCES), processes and safely returns the wastewater to the environment. There is no rate increase for 2023, the sewer rates remain at the 2022 level of $4.60 per 750 gallons (1 unit) of wastewater contributed to the system. The City calculates your quarterly sewer charge based on your water consumption during the winter quarter or current water consumption, whichever is less. Customers using less than 6,000 gallons (8 units) receive a minimum fee of $36.80.

Refuse and Recycling Rates

There are three separate contracted services to provide curbside residential refuse and recycling services:

1. Curbside collection provided by Republic Services.
2. Processing of recyclables at the Eureka Recycling processing facility.
3. Disposal of refuse at the tipping facility in Newport, co-operated by Ramsey-Washington counties. 

The cost of these services are passed on directly to residents through their quarterly utility bill.

Recycle Processing Fee:  The City contract with Eureka Recycling includes a revenue sharing formula, which means the City receives all revenues from the sale of the recyclables less the cost of processing the materials. There is no recycling processing fee for 2023. 

Surface Water Management Fee

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency administers the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program, which works to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Stormwater discharges associated with MS4s are subject to regulation under the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program. The City has a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to meet these MS4 permit requirements. The 2023 quarterly Surface Water Management Infrastructure fee is $7.00 per Residential Equivalent Unit (REU) to support related program activities.

In 2023, the City is beginning to transition to a new REU based rate for commercial properties. The REU for each commercial property is calculated based on the property’s size and the impervious surface coverage (areas that do not allow rain to infiltrate the ground) on the property. Commercial entities with an actual REU of 1-3 will pay the $7.00 rate multiplied by their actual REU each quarter. Commercial entities with an actual REU of greater than 3 will be limited to the $7.00 rate multiplied by 3. The City intends to increase the REU limit each year to allow entities with higher REU values to gradually get to their actual quarterly charge over an extended time frame.