Starting in September, Cranberry Township will bill all 9,000 of its water customers every month. Currently, the bills are sent quarterly. At their May 26 meeting, the Board of Supervisors authorized advertisement of the amendments to local ordinances needed to enable the switch.
Several other benefits, beyond smaller bills more consistent with monthly budgeting, will result from the switchover, Assistant Township Manager Duane McKee explained to the Board. Among them: realigning the periods for water and trash services covered in the bills, more frequent meter readings which can eventually be performed remotely, more efficient assignment of meter readers’ routes, a redesigned and more user-friendly bill format, enhanced payment options, and an opportunity to explore alternative ways of processing bill payments.
Earlier this year, West View Water – Cranberry’s sole supplier of fresh water – announced that it was raising its bulk water rates starting July 1. During their meeting, the Board approved adjusting the rate for the consumption component of its water bills, starting in September, to cover that increased cost – from $4.86 to $5.09 per thousand gallons – still below the regional average of $5.60 per thousand. The median increase in cost to residential customers will amount to $1.54 a month. Sewer rates will remain unchanged.