ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The City of Orangeburg’s Department of Public Utilities proposed a rate increase to city council last week.
Residents might see an increase in their water and wastewater rates as soon as October.
Warren Harley is the manager of DPU. He says this raise increase is necessary.
“The reason for the rate increase is to continue our ongoing investment in our system,” said Harley. “The City of Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities serves water, sewer, electric and gas. It’s a significant provider in this area, and as our system ages, we have to keep up with the reinvestment and improvements that we need to maintain the system so that we don’t lose control of the quality and level of service that we are providing to our community.”
Residents who live inside city limits would see an average increase of 2.3% which would be $6.13. And residents who live outside city limits would see an average of 4.1%, which would be $12.26.
Bonita Chapman lives in Orangeburg and says the cost of living is making it hard to make ends meet.
“With the cost of living going up, it does create a hardship for a lot of people who don’t make enough money,” said Chapman. “Minimum wage still being below the national average makes it really hard for Orangeburg residents to be able to meet their needs.”
Chenoa Bethea has lived in Orangeburg for over 14 years. She says winter months are expensive when it comes to electricity bills.
During the wintertime, we use our heat and we also have the Edisto Gardens, where they light up the gardens for everyone to see, and that raises our bill as well,” said Bethea. I am just not looking forward to seeing them hiking these prices again. It was very difficult last year to pay that.”
Harley says the rate increase allows DPU to keep up their quality of service.
“We raise rates when necessary to maintain the level of service, quality of service that people expect, and so we don’t do it in a haphazard way,” said Harley. “We have a planned capital improvement plan that we try to stick with, and our rates are tied to that plan, and so as we implement that plan, we make sure we adjust the rates based on those needs.”
There will still need to be two more readings at city council for the rate increase to pass.