GREER: Following 8 years without any rate increases for Greer CPW customers, Commissioners approved the 2026 fiscal year budget and capital improvement plan, which includes a modest facilities charge adjustment for water and wastewater customers. Additionally, continuing into its 9th year, both electric and natural gas rates will remain the same.
“We’ve fought inflation and rising supply costs for more than eight years while continuing to maintain some of the lowest utility rates in the area. While a rate modification is never easy, I appreciate staff maintaining a lean budget year after year while providing affordable utilities and continuing to invest in our infrastructure,” said Gene Gibson, Greer CPW Chairman.
The adjustment is to help cover rising supply costs, keep up with increasing demand for services, and maintain reliable utility services. For example, over the last eight years, six inch ductile iron piping costs used for water and wastewater have risen 129%, costs for a standard fire hydrant have risen 147%, and water treatment chemicals have risen 442% since 2017.
The following changes will be reflected in the facilities charge for water and wastewater customers starting January 1, 2026:
Water:
All customers residing inside the City of Greer with a standard water meter will see an additional $0.25 per month added to their facilities charge for each water meter.
All customers residing outside of the City of Greer with a standard water meter will see an additional $0.35 per month added to their facilities charge for each water meter.
Wastewater:
All customers residing inside the City of Greer municipal boundaries will see an additional $1.27 per month added to their facilities charge.
All customers residing outside the City of Greer municipal boundaries will see an additional $1.60 or $1.77 per month added to their facilities charge depending on whether their wastewater is treated by ReWa.
Larger commercial and industrial customers will see additional facilities charges in both water and wastewater based on their meter size. Updated rate tables can be viewed here [PDF, 28.51 KB].
Despite the changes, Greer CPW continues to offer some of the lowest rates in the region, while continuing to reinvest in system improvements that help keep long-term costs extremely low compared to our neighboring utilities. The $127 Million budget Commissioners approved includes several major capital improvement projects:
- Finalizing the Maple Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant headworks project to increase intake capacity and improve efficiency at the plant.
- Rehabilitating and replacing parts of the wastewater treatment collections system.
- 8” waterline extension on East Poinsett Street and waterline replacements throughout the system.
- Installing self-healing grids in parts of the electric system that help detect and prevent power outages.
- Rebuilding natural gas equipment and extending gas lines in the Lyman area and on Highway 414.
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