Cost of water, electricity around Eugene to jump in 2025, according to new EWEB forecast

Eugene residents can expect to see their power and water bills increase next year.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board announced this month that it's projecting an 11% increase in electricity rates and an 8% increase in water rates in 2025.

At the October EWEB meeting, staff presented a tentative proposal to raise EWEB's water rates by 8% in February 2025. They also proposed increasing electric rates twice: by 7% in February and by an amount to be determined based on the Bonneville Power Administration (EWEB's biggest electricity supplier) rate increase in October, which is forecasted at 4%.

EWEB described the rate increases as necessary to cover rising costs due to inflation, BPA's rates, and aging infrastructure. Commissioners praised the staff for reducing the initial projections , which had been 15% for electricity and 9% for water in July, and for separating out the part of the electric rate increase they could attribute to BPA.

"Splitting (BPA) out seems like it could be helpful for the community to understand what is in our control and what is more outside of our control," EWEB Commissioner Sonya Carlson said.

According to EWEB, an average residential customer would see their electric rate increase from $190 to $203 per month and their water rate increase from $43 to $46 per month.

More public hearings and board discussions over EWEB's 2025 rates and budget are scheduled at both the Nov. 12 and Dec. 3 meetings, with a vote scheduled for the December meeting.

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres .

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Cost of water, electricity around Eugene to jump in 2025, according to new EWEB forecast