Water rates will go up 5.9% June 1

While numbers have been bantered about for many months and a settlement was reached between Veolia and the local communities it serves some time ago, earlier this month the Public Service Commission (PSC) finalized its rate review with the water company, and the figures are being made public.

The Veolia rate case was on the May 16 PSC agenda.

What that means for Port Chester, Rye and Rye Brook is that a 5.9% rate increase will compound over the next five years. This year there will be a 5.9% increase, next year a 5.9% rate hike and so on for the next five years, Port Chester Village Manager Stuart Rabin explained at the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, May 20. “We will make a note of advising everyone that their rate will go up June 1. That rate case was filed and settled.”

Part of that case also dealt with the Plan the Port initiative to incentivize development in Port Chester.

“A lot of water infrastructure needs to be done for the residents here now,” said Rabin.

As had been previously laid out by Veolia, the developers will pay $6,000 a door or unit to get their will-serve letter allowing them to build their already-approved residential or mixed-use projects.

“The developers have been actively executing their own agreements to make sure they are ready to go,” said Rabin.

Part of the infrastructure needed is additional water storage, and a tank at the Department of Public Works yard on Fox Island Road has been discussed.

“That is going to be left for a subsequent agreement,” said the village manager. “Both sides will make their best efforts to effectuate the building of a new storage tank in the village. We are not sure where that will be yet.”