The McMinnville Water & Light Commission recently approved changes to water and electric rates, which went into effect October 1, 2025. The new rates are necessary to cover increases in the costs of providing service.
Water rates will increase 5%, and electric rates will increase 4.5% overall considering all rate classes. For example, a water bill for a residential customer who uses 1500 cubic feet/month (3/4” water meter) will increase $1.46 a month (from $43.55 to $45.01). The electric bill for a residential customer who uses 1230 kwh/month will increase $4.62 (from $93.55 to $98.17).
Utilities across the country have been dealing with steep increases in labor and materials costs to build, finance, maintain, and improve operations and to plan for growth or unforeseen events.
Across the country, electric infrastructure costs for utilities increased an average of 15 percent in 2023 and 22 percent in 2024. In addition, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) power and transmission costs are the largest expense in next year’s MW&L’s electric budget. MW&L is incurring an 8% increase in power costs from BPA and an 18% increase in transmission costs. Despite those significant increases, MW&L was committed to keeping rate increases lower.
The water rate increase is necessary to cover system costs and provide adequate receipts for maintenance and operation of the system, maintenance of adequate reserves for contingencies, and contemplated additions, improvements and extensions of the system.
Even with the increase, McMinnville Water & Light water and electric rates continue to be among the lowest compared to other utilities in our region. See all the rates here: https://www.mc-power.com/my-account/rates/
