SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — The troubled water utility company that services Sunland Park and Santa Teresa said it is considering raising its rates.
According to the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, customers could see a rate hike following a study that reportedly revealed CRRUA is underfunded.
CRRUA said that the proposed changes would increase the monthly bill of an average household by about $19.64.
Breakdown of the proposed changes: Rate study:
Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea addressed the rate increases, saying “it’s a hard pill to swallow,” but said it was a step in the right direction as CRRUA needs funds to fix its infrastructure problems, such as arsenic in the water.
Perea acknowledged the mixed reactions from constituents, noting, “No one ever wants to see their bills increase, but I tell people, my Netflix account, when I started, I paid $10, now I’m paying over $26 for my Netflix account.”
Perea also emphasized that utilities are not immune to economic effects and that the lack of rate increases in recent years has left the utility behind.
“We need to be realistic about what it costs to really produce the water, to actually treat the water and get that delivered to the constituency,” Perea said.
Perea added that the City and Dona Ana County are working together to approve the rates, since they both own CRRUA.
Perea also mentioned they plan to discuss the proposed changes with the community during future meetings.
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