Lynnfield Center Water District Announces New Rates

LYNNFIELD, MA — The Lynnfield Center Water District Board of Water Commissioners announced that an adjustment to the current rate structure was approved.

With the change, typical residential customers should expect that their annual bills will rise $26 on average per year.

The board considered six rate structure options at its meeting on Feb. 24, and ultimately voted to approve an option which reduces the number of rate tiers from three to two and implements a 2 percent increase:

Tier 1

• A rate for use of the first 24,000 gallons per quarter, the typical usage by a family of four in accordance with industry standards and some allowance for regular outdoor water use. About 86 percent of water billed by the District falls into Tier 1.
• The new rate for this tier will be $6.77 per 1,000 gallons, compared to $6.45 per 1,000 gallons currently.

Tier 2

• A rate for water used after the first 24,000 gallons per quarter. This tier now combines the previous Tier 2 (24,000-36,000 gallons per quarter), and Tier 3 (more than 36,000 gallons per quarter).
• The new rate for this tier will be $16.93 per 1,000 gallons, compared to $16.13 per 1,000 gallons in Tier 2 before, and $19.35 per 1,000 gallons in the now-eliminated Tier 3.

The quarterly service fee that applies to all accounts, covering the standard cost of business administration and operations costs unrelated to the production of water, will remain unchanged.
LCWD generates revenue through volumetric rates and an assessment on individual real-estate tax bills. Revenue is used to fund department operations and supports long-term capital projects.
Commissioners welcome ratepayers to attend their meetings, which are held virtually using the Zoom platform during COVID-19. Zoom links and information are included in the posted meeting agendas. You will be asked to state your name and address upon being allowed into the meeting.

Next on the agenda for the Board is preparation for the Annual District Meeting and an extensive presentation scheduled for March 15, discussing a potential Capital Program that could be voted on by the District at the Spring meeting.