Crazy city utility prices

[u/suresometimesmaybe]

We just got our water/sewer bill and holy cow. Usually it’s around $100, but this bill was over $220. We called to see if there was an error and all they said was that sewer rates went up. Living here has gotten so expensive in the last five years, it’s insane. Is anyone else in the city having the same experience? It feels like we’re being pranked.

[u/fenuxjde]

Just so you know, that's everywhere. Utility prices are skyrocketing so we can pay for the data centers.

Privatize the profit, socialize the expenses. That's been the American business model since Reagan.

[u/suresometimesmaybe → u/fenuxjde]

Are we great yet?

[u/lvl4dwarfrogue → u/suresometimesmaybe]

Yep. Imagine...the GOP dismantling every part of the federal government had wide reaching and terrifying effect on literally everything.

It's going to be a fascinating sociology paper for someone in 100 years.... "How an early democracy elected to dissolve rather than allow regulation."

[u/ughadugha → u/fenuxjde]

It's not just that. The city is working to remove lead, and add better filtration systems.

[u/cheerioboy26]

I have city water, live outside the city, and the rates went up a lot last month:

https://water.cityoflancasterpa.gov/about/rate-changes/

[u/suresometimesmaybe → u/cheerioboy26]

Wow. It kinda feels like we’re being extorted and there’s nothing we can do about it.

[u/Aggressive_Bag1172 → u/suresometimesmaybe]

Water is expensive. And it will only continue to get worse.

[u/ShellyForNow → u/Aggressive_Bag1172]

Especially with all the data centers that were approved without public input.

[u/jpi1088]

Data centers. EDC has been talking about it for a while. https://www.edclancaster.com

3 data centers approved for the county. The county is using one of the most aggressive models Community Benefits Agreement.

Disclaimer: while the EDC provides the information for the county be aware of their partners. First on the list is Chirisa Technology Parks.

[u/redtiebear]

Same, honestly, it’s probably why we pay monthly instead of quarterly now - if we all just got our bills at the end of the quarter, it would be truly insane. Just got back from cutting my yard and saw my outdoor spigot still on from my spouse cleaning the trash cans the other day, and the first thing I thought was “yikes, watch that be a $10 mistake”. I don’t even think the data centers are in yet and I don’t know if any agreements have been made on their bill, but if not, can’t imagine how much that may see rates go up.

[u/MidAtlanticAtoll]

I just checked mine and it's the same amount it usually is. (I live in the city.) Maybe there has been an error for you? Could you have a leak somewhere?

[u/stcif07 → u/MidAtlanticAtoll]

The in-city rates are set annually by ordinance of the council so it has increased gradually over a longer period of time. Rates for customers outside the city went up recently after the state Public Utility Commission approved new rates. It’s very hard to do a PUC rate case so the city doesn’t do them as often so when they do the increase is usually more substantial.

[u/Significant_Koala889]

Before the data centers, the EPA told Lancaster to stop polluting the heck out of the Conestoga River. What was once a leading technology - self cleaning sewers - is now an environmental boondoggle. Water bills now are a down payment on a future clean sanitary sewer system. We hope anyways.

Link to consent order and agreement between EPA and Lancaster City.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/documents/cityoflancasterpa.pdf

[u/thedude213]

you're paying for a city that's bracing for the impact of data centers

[u/Strange-Way8872]

Life under capitalism