Current Rates - New York Water - Residential

Water Usage Charge

This charge represents the cost related to operating and maintaining source of supply, pumping, treatment and transmission and distribution facilities, as well as the capital costs related to upgrading these facilities. This charge is based on the amount of water you use. The charge is based on a four-tier increasing conservation water rate structure, meaning the cost per gallon increases with each rate block as shown below. By conserving water and keeping your water use within the lower blocks, you pay less per gallon. Reducing your water consumption will also ensure the long-term sustainability of our water source, the Long Island Aquifer.
For information on additional rate categories, such as Irrigation Accounts and Fire Service, please visit our Tariff. Rate information begins on document page 61.

Water Service Charge

This fixed charge represents the costs of meter reading, customer billing, accounting and maintaining the meter and service line to your property. The water service charge is based on the size of the water meter and is due with every bill. Most residential customers have 5/8” meters. Some also have a separate meter for their lawn sprinkler service, many of which are 1”. These rates apply to all service areas. Please refer to Liberty’s tariff for charges related to larger meter sizes.

Bills Will Go Down Beginning in January 2022

The sale of NYAW to Liberty resulted in the elimination of the Make-Whole charge that was implemented in May of 2021. An average customer using 8000 gal/month will see a reduction in their bill between $6-11 depending on location.

The company was granted a rate increase that was to go into effect on April 1, 2020. However, due to Covid-19 the increase was delayed until May 1, 2021.
The Make-Whole charge was mechanism designed to capture the lost revenue due to the delay in the rate increase.

PLEASE NOTE: Although the Make-Whole charge has been eliminated effective January 1, 2022, your January bill will reflect the charge for usage in December 2021. Going forward the charge will not appear on the bill.

Rate Decrease Impact - Residential

Rate Decrease Impact - Commercial

Rate Increase in Effect May 1, 2021

On May 1, 2021, the approved “Rate Year 4” rate increase was implemented. In recognition of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the approved rate increase was postponed for thirteen months.

We strive to act transparently with our customers when it comes to your water bill. Take a look below to see how your bill will change depending on your household’s average water usage. We understand that the rate increase is significant and we want to provide relief to customers. We highly encourage customers to use water efficiently, especially for outdoor irrigation, to minimize the impact of this increase on their water bill. We offer many tools to help you conserve in our H2O Control Toolbox.
Conservation Tools

What the May 1 Increase Means for Your Water Bill

Liberty is regulated by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), and rates are established based upon the cost of providing service. This includes construction, maintenance, operation, administration and financing. Periodically, the company will file with the PSC for updates to its rates based on new infrastructure investments and any changes in the costs to operate the water system. This is referred to as a base rate case. The PSC approved a four-year rate plan beginning June 1, 2017.

The base rate increase for Rate Year 4 of this rate plan was delayed from April 1, 2020, until May 1, 2021. In addition, the System Improvement Charge and the Revenue Adjustment Clause / Property Tax Reconciliation charge were also postponed until May 1, 2021. Per the Public Service Commission Order issued December 30, 2020, a make-whole provision was granted and a surcharge will be applied to customers’ bills May 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. Access the Order here.

Current Water Rates