Understanding the Recent Adjustment to Your Sewer Rates

We understand that residents in Briar Chapel, Horse Creek Farms, Carolina Plantations, and Stateside may have questions about the recent adjustment to your sewer service rates, and we want to provide you with a clear explanation. Transparency and open communication are important to us, and we want to ensure you understand why this change was necessary.

Recently, the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approved an adjustment to our sewer service rates. After careful review, the NCUC determined a rate adjustment that is fair to consumers while allowing us to continue providing essential services, recover our costs and earn a fair and reasonable rate of return on our investment.

You may have noticed your bill increasing over the past few months, and we want to clarify the reasons behind this gradual change. A temporary rate increase was approved effective January 7th. Since we bill in arrears (for the previous service period), the bill you received shortly after was prorated to reflect the portion of the billing cycle before and after this temporary rate took effect. The following month’s bill then reflected the full temporary rate increase.

More recently, new rates were approved on March 25th. As with the temporary increase, the bill you received after this approval was also prorated. Starting with your April bill, you will see the full impact of these newly approved rates.

Several key factors have contributed to the need for this rate adjustment:

• Plant Expansion: ONSWC doubled the size of the Briar Chapel Plant from 250,000 to 500,000 gallons per day to accommodate the growth in Briar Chapel. Since Briar Chapel has separate rates, this cost is only being recovered from Briar Chapel customers.
• Aging Infrastructure: Like all essential utilities, our sewer system includes a vast network of pipes, lift stations, and treatment facilities. Many of these components are aging and require ongoing maintenance, repair, and eventual replacement within the service areas for Briar Chapel, Horse Creek Farms, Carolina Plantations, and Stateside. These investments are vital to prevent disruptions in service, protect public health, and safeguard our environment in your communities.
• Regulatory Requirements: Environmental regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. To comply with these mandates and ensure we are operating in an environmentally responsible manner within the areas we serve in North Carolina, we must invest in upgrades to our treatment processes and infrastructure. These improvements are essential for protecting our waterways and maintaining the ecological health of our region.
• Operational Costs: The cost of providing sewer services, including electricity, chemicals, and personnel for the systems serving your neighborhoods, has also increased. This rate adjustment helps us to cover these rising operational expenses and continue to deliver the high-quality service you expect and deserve in Briar Chapel, Horse Creek Farms, Carolina Plantations, and Stateside.

We are committed to being efficient and responsible stewards of your resources. We continually look for ways to optimize our operations and minimize costs while ensuring the long-term health and functionality of our sewer system serving Briar Chapel, Horse Creek Farms, Carolina Plantations, and Stateside.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this rate adjustment impacting your community, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service department at 877-511-2911 or info@onswc.com.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to maintain and improve this essential service for your communities in North Carolina.