Under the new rates, the 'average' Anacortes residential user, who now pays $11.46 per month for 700 cubic feet of water, would pay $16.73 in 2013, an increase of about $5 per month. The actual cost of water, called the volume charge, won't increase from the current $1.03 per cubic foot, but the base charge will increase.
The rates would be staged a bit higher every year for the next 3 years. Here's what the proposed retail rates look like.
| Existing | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| Base Charge | $4.25 | $7.74 | $8.63 | $9.52 |
| Volume Charge | $1.03 | $1.03 | $1.03 | $1.03 |
| Monthly Rate/Avg User | $11.46 | $14.95 | $15.84 | $16.73 |
Anacortes water would still be lower than other water service here. Skagit PUD charges $35.24 for that same 'average' user who draws 700 cubic feet of water per month. Stanwood charges $21.47; Port Townsend $24.62; Port Angeles $41.31; Bellingham $30.46. These are residential rates; commercial users would also pay higher rates.
The higher water costs will be the result of construction of a $60-million update and expansion of the city's water treatment plant.