Roseville Treading Water on Consumption Rate Adjustment

If Roseville's water useage rates are headed for an increase this year, it won't happen immediately.

The Roseville Council on Monday night voted to keep the city's water useage rates at their 2012 levels. That's at least until Roseville learns what its wholesale water supplier, the St.Paul Regional Water Services, plans to do with its water rates.

"They (St. Paul) are looking at their whole rate structure," Roseville City Finance Director Chris Miller told the Council members. For now, extending the 2012 rates "would be OK in the interim," he said.

The Roseville Council is expected to revisit the water useage rate issue at its Feb. 11 meeting.

In December, some Council members expressed interest in adopting more uniform water useage rates in place of water conservation-based rates.

But in memo, City Manager Billl Malinen said that Roseville currently isn't in a position to do all the additional things that would be needed to make that happen. That would include implementing lawn sprinkling regulations such as odd/even day restrictions and monthly water and sewer billing, he said.

As a result, Malinen is recommending the Council continue the city's existing water-conservation rate structure and adjust quarterly fees to cover increased costs.

Here are Roseville's current water rates:

SF Residential; Up to 30,000 gals./qtr    $  2.15                    
SF Residential; Over 30,000 gals./qtr – winter rate *  2.40        
SF Residential; Over 30,000 gals./qtr – summer rate **  2.65    
Non-SF Residential – winter rate             $2.80                         
Non-SF Residential – summer rate  **    $ 3.10                     

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