Albuquerque water officials will likely need to raise customers’ rates in the next several years in order to pay for improvements to aging infrastructure.
At a board meeting of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, chief executive Mark Sanchez said the utility would be asking for five percent increases in 2016 and 2018. A rate hike for 2013 has already been approved. Each increase would raise average customer rates by about 3 dollars.
A long range forecast estimates the water utility should be spending 76 million dollars a year over the next several decades to stay on top of infrastructure needs. The Authority currently spends about 41 million a year.
At last night's meeting, the board also approved a new Drought Management Strategy. Find more details about that on our conservation blog: earth air waves.
