A review of water rates by the Office of Consumer Counsel shows that five of the top 10 highest bills go to customers of Clinton-based Connecticut Water. Customers in Connecticut Water’s Mansfield division that covers Pilgrim Hills, Pinewood and Redwood Farms have an average annual bill of $809.57.
Connecticut Water’s South Coventry division was second at $791.26. Its Mansfield division was third at $790.23. Customers of Aquarion Water Co.’s Topstone area were fourth $778.24. The Jewett City Water Company rounded out the top five with an average charge of $771.91.
The lowest water rates in the state were charged by the Heritage Village Water Co. Its customers were charged an average annual bill of $314.44. That was 15 percent below the next lowest price.
For the review, the consumer counsel staff looked at a quarterly bill for an average household using 18,000 gallons of water per quarter. The averages reflect the base rate components approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and other surcharges or credits including the water infrastructure and conservation adjustment, the revenue adjustment mechanism and repair tax credit that are in effect for each division surveyed as of Oct. 1.
The consumer counsel staff also computed typical water bills of The Metropolitan District Commission and South Central Regional Water. The two public water providers are not regulated by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
The MDC has an average annual bill of $405.29 for its member towns. The South Central Regional Water Authority charges its customers, on average, $569.32.
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