PIQUA — The Piqua City Commission will consider three proposed utility rate adjustments during a public meeting on Tuesday, April 7.
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The proposal includes tiered changes to electric, water, and wastewater rates based on a recent cost-of-service and rate study.
The study, conducted by Sawvel & Associates and city staff, evaluated operational needs, capital investment requirements, and financial policies.
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The findings were used to determine if current rates align with the actual cost of providing services while maintaining system reliability.
The proposed electric rate adjustment includes changes to the residential kilowatt-hour rate and the fixed customer charge.
For a household using 750 kWh per month, the estimated monthly impact is approximately $7 in 2026, $6 in 2027, $2 in 2028, and $1 in 2029.
Electric base rates in the city were last adjusted in 2015.
City officials noted that even after the four-year adjustment period, Piqua’s residential electric rates will remain lower than current AES Ohio rates and below the statewide utility average.
To help maintain overall affordability, the city identified opportunities to lower water and wastewater rates.
Beginning in 2026, the monthly base rate would decrease by $1.23 for water service and $3.80 for wastewater services.
Wastewater rates would see additional decreases of $1.00 per month in both 2027 and 2028.
These reductions are intended to minimize the budgetary impact for customers who receive all three city-owned utilities.
The Energy & Utility Board unanimously recommended approval of the adjustments following a review of the proposals.
This citizen board serves in an advisory capacity to the City Commission regarding the operation and management of Piqua’s municipal utility systems.
Piqua’s utilities are structured as locally controlled, not-for-profit enterprise funds.
The electric, water, and wastewater funds each operate independently from one another and the General Fund.
Each service is funded specifically by the utility payments made for that respective service.
The first reading of the proposal is scheduled for the April 7 meeting at the Municipal Government Complex, 201 W. Water St. If the adjustments are approved, the new rates would take effect in June 2026.
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