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Competitiveness and Value

MCES strives to keep wastewater rates below the national average for similar-sized utilities. MCES also contributes to the economic vitality of the region through quality and cost-effective wastewater utility management.

The map below compares Metropolitan (Twin Cities) retail rates (city rates which include MCES's wholesale charges) to other publicly owned treatment systems around the country. Information is from the 2008 National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Financial Survey, and compares average annual retail rates (the map includes all agencies that treat more than 100 mgd and reported their rates to NACWA -this was 22 agencies). Of these 22 agencies, MCES has the fifth lowest retail sewer rates (ie. 81% of these peer agencies have higher rates).

 

MCES's Municipal Wastewater Wholesale Charges

Compare the Value

When compared to other household service costs, the Twin Cities average retail charge for sewer service is a bargain. The following graph shows average household costs per month.

Sources:

1. Wireless Phone: $50--Average Revenue per User (ARPU) in 2007 per Forbes.com.
2. Natural Gas: $100--CenterPoint Energy average residential customer bill in 2007.
3. Electric: $62--Minnesota average overhead line service in 2007 per Xcel Energy.
4. Cable TV: $52--Comcast's standard cable package in February 2009.
5. Phone: $23--Qwest's rate for basic telephone service (April 2008) including taxes and fees
6. Water Supply: $16--2008 average charge for Minneapolis and St. Paul combined (based on 60,000 gallons/household/year) per Utility Rates Survey from Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services. Rates for most Twin Cities suburbs are about 15 - 50% lower than this.
7. Trash: $21--Average of six haulers in St. Paul for 60 gallon service including taxes and fees per MPCA report Analysis of Waste Collection Service Arrangements dated March 2009.
8. Sewer Service: $16--Average retail rate per household in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in 2008. MCES receives a portion of this amount (about 70%), with the remaining going to city governments.
9. Stormwater Utility fee: $7--Average for St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2007.

 

 

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Contact:

Dan Schueller

Phone: (651) 602-1624

Email: dan.schueller@metc.state.mn.us

More information on MCES charges