Consumption is based on data collected from a calibrated meter.
Many of the meters in the CAWD were outdated (some more than 50 years old) and were not providing accurate water consumption data. Many of these meters have been replaced with meters properly calibrated, providing the customer and city with accurate water consumption.
Properties that were part of the annexation effective in March 2024 but that have not yet annexed can can complete an Early Annexation Waiver (click here to download form). Once the form has been signed and submitted to Community Development, the outside water rate will be changed to the inside water rate on the following water bill. Please note, that annexing into the city limits will also require water users to pay a street, public safety and parks surcharge. These surcharges can be found at www.phoenixoregon.gov/water-rates.
Using a unit base rate allows the City to spread the cost of operations equitably across all water customers. Each unit equates to one residential customer.
The City of Phoenix adopted Resolution #1126 effective July 1, 2024 setting water rates for service provided outside the city limits to former Charlotte Ann Water District customers in the Phoenix UGB. Resolution #1126 set the rate for outside city limits customers at 1.5 times the Inside City rate. The City established the rate to account for the additional expenses and recover the cost of the $2.2 million investment to provide service to these customers.
In May of 2023, the residents of the Charlotte Anne Water District voted to dissolve their district.
The district, at the time of the dissolution was facing financial challenges and was unable to complete the maintenance necessary to keep the system running and provide water to its residents.
Additionally, an Oregon Department of Transportation rebuild project on Highway 99 required the district to pay for relocation of its water line, which the district did not have money available to cover the $2.5 million costs. A pump station also needed substantial upgrades, another project for which the district lacks funds.
Prior to the Special Election on May 16, 2023, the district board of directors recommended dissolution of the district to its customers in a letter it sent out (click here for information regarding letter presented to the City Council on 1/3/23). The letter explained that if the dissolution did not pass, the board may need to bond for the work, resulting in increased water rates.
The district, the Medford Water Commission and the City of Phoenix had been discussing the issues since the Almeda Fire. The governments entered into an agreement earlier in 2023 that provides for the commission and the city to take over providing services to the area if dissolution is approved.
The intergovernmental agreement obligated Phoenix to complete the relocation of the district’s water infrastructure within the Highway 99 corridor as required by the Oregon Department of Transportation. When properties within the district are annexed to the city, the cost of water line relocation will be absorbed into the existing water rate in Phoenix, and both existing and new customers from the district will pay the same rates.
Yes. The city applied for and received a grant of $750,000 and a loan in the amount of $1,455,000. This funding helped offset the cost of installing 3,800 feet of new waterline, the installation of 49 water services and 12 new fire hydrants.
Additionally, the city has applied for and received $5 million in funding to construct a new water reservoir and $4 million to construct a new main line extension on N. Phoenix Road to store and distribute water to current and future residents in Phoenix and in the CAWD. The city continues to seek grant funding to offset the increased costs of both projects. The total cost of both of these projects ranges from $11-$12 million dollars.
The city conducts its meter reads typically around the 28th of each month. Meter reads are uploaded to the system after the 28th and typically before the 1st of the month. If you have autopay set up on the 1st of the month and the water bills are finalized on the same day, your bill will not reflect the current monthly charges and no autopay transaction will take place. It is recommended that autopay be setup after the 5th of the month to avoid this issue.
The city is currently reviewing late fees charged in the past few months and will issue late fee credits, when appropriate, once the autopay date has been changed to avoid future issues.
If you believe that you received a late fee in error, please contact Utility Billing at 541-535-1955.
The city of Phoenix uses a tiered rate structure with a base fee plus consumption. A base fee is assessed for each residential unit serviced by a meter.
For example:
A Single Family Residence is assessed one base fee.
A Single Family Residence with an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU) is assed two base fees.
A Duplex is assessed two base fees.
A Triplex is assessed three base fees.
Click Here to see an example of a single family and multi-family residence.
The City of Phoenix adopted Resolution #1040 effective July 1, 2019 setting water rates for a ten-year period for customers residing within the city limits. Effective July 1, 2024, the rates moved to the Year 6 step on the rate schedule