Westfield, MA — Utilities across Massachusetts now have access to a powerful new digital resource to help guide decisions on water and sewer pricing. Engineering and environmental consulting firm Tighe & Bond, in collaboration with the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of North Carolina School of Government, has released an updated Water & Wastewater Rates Dashboard — an interactive platform built to support rate-setting and infrastructure investment planning.
Drawing from a comprehensive survey of 326 water and sewer systems — representing approximately 85% of the utilities in the state — the dashboard offers an in-depth view of rate structures, billing trends, and affordability considerations across public, quasi-public, and private utility companies in Massachusetts.
“Aging infrastructure and more stringent regulations are requiring water and wastewater utilities to increase their investment in system improvements,” said Peter Galant, PE, Vice President at Tighe & Bond. “Utilities need to balance these investment needs with their impact on customer rates and affordability. Our goal is to provide utilities with insights into industry trends, allowing them to make data-driven investment and ratemaking decisions.”
Key Trends in Water & Sewer Rates
Tighe & Bond’s executive summary of the survey highlights several important trends:
-
Costs are rising steadily: Since 2000, water service rates have increased by about 5% annually, while sewer service rates have grown at around 6% per year.
-
Billing frequency is increasing: Utilities are moving away from traditional annual or semi-annual billing schedules, with many adopting quarterly or monthly billing cycles. This shift offers customers clearer feedback on their water use and can help identify leaks earlier.
-
Rate structures are evolving: While most utilities continue to use usage-based pricing models, the number of systems relying on flat fees has been steadily declining since 2000.
The dashboard allows users to filter rate data by factors such as system size, geography, and socioeconomic conditions, enabling tailored comparisons and regional benchmarking.
“The Water & Wastewater Rates Dashboard provides a valuable benchmarking tool for utility managers across Massachusetts for rate data, enabling strategic decision making that can shape the future of their systems,” said Tiffany Labrie, Water Business Line Leader at Tighe & Bond.
With utility leaders facing the dual challenge of rising infrastructure costs and the need to maintain affordability for ratepayers, this updated tool offers a much-needed resource for thoughtful planning and sustainable investment.
