Water, Sewer & Electric Rates
Water, Sewer & Electric Rates
The City of Fairburn understands the importance of quality utilities and strives to deliver exceptional service to our residents and customers.
Since 2012, our electric rates had remained unchanged and our water rates have not been changed since 2011, yet our costs of supplies, materials, operations, and maintenance & upkeep had been greatly affected by inflation and supply-chain issues. For example, our wholesale power costs had increased 52% between 2012 and 2023.
The City is committed to transparent and responsible rate management. These carefully considered utility rate adjustments, the first in over a decade, are essential to provide adequate financial resources to maintain quality of service and reinvest in aging system infrastructure. To ensure financial sustainability and service excellence, these rates will be reviewed regularly and may be adjusted to reflect changing costs and infrastructure as needed.
Targeted Rate Adjustments:
- Electric: 8% overall revenue increase in 2024, followed by 6% in 2025 and 2026, then 3% each year between 2028 through 2033.
- Water and sewer: 5% overall revenue increase each year in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Though individual properties and accounts may have different outcomes based on usage, the impact of these rate increases should average between 10% and 11% for most homeowners.
Impact:
The new rates will appear on your February 2024 utility statement. The increased rates remain competitive, and our commitment to exceptional service remains unchanged.
For questions or additional information on your rate schedule, please contact our Utility Department at (770) 969-3481.
Electric Consumption During Colder Seasons:
Thermostat Settings
The recommended setting during the colder months is 68 degrees (auto) and lower. If a resident adjusts their thermostat higher, they will be at risk of using 3-5% more energy. Another component to consider is the temperature outside. The thermostat controls the temperature inside of the home, by battling against the outside temperature. If there is a bigger difference between the inside and outside temperature, the system will find it harder to control the temperature, resulting in the use of more energy. Typically, the heating and cooling appliance is the largest electrical component inside of a home, using 45 – 50% of the energy. Other appliances include: Water Heater (12%), Lighting (9-12%), Refrigerator (8%), Washer/Dryer (5%), Electric Oven (3%), Dishwasher (2%) and Tv/Cable box (2%). On colder days, the unit will work hard to keep the home warm and on hotter days, the unit will work hard to keep the home cool.
Preventive Maintenance on Heating/Cooling System
It is crucial to maintain HVAC systems. It ensure that a until will run at it’s peak operation, as much as possible. The heating and AC will not need to work as hard, to keep a home comfortable, which results in less energy. Preventive maintenance checks could include the following: annual inspections, cleaning coils and filters (inside of the home), inspecting refrigerant/fuel lines, inspecting belts, checking for leaks in the ductwork and ensuring all components are working properly.
Other Components
Here are a list of other items to factor in when discussing increases with electric consumption during the winter: Christmas light, electric blankets, space heaters and a higher demand for hot water. Yes, higher water heater settings can contribute to a higher electric bill. If the setting is too high, this can be a contributing factor to the waste of energy. The recommended temperature for a water heater is 120 degrees.