JEA Bill

[Josh]

So does anyone else think that 2.85 cents per gallon is extremely high for city water? I guess they are charging extra for all the chlorine and calcium?

Yes, because that's not correct.

[Lunican]

$57.06 for 2000 gallons of water and sewer equals 2.853 cents per gallon.

[tufsu1]

I believe there is a minimum charge for sewer and water.....so its not just a per gallon rate, but starts with a base charge....kind of like almost any repair business.

[BridgeTroll]

$57.06 for 2000 gallons of water and sewer equals 2.853 cents per gallon.

I think it is 1.427 cents per gallon coming out of the tap... and the same going down the drain... equalling 2.853.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

$36.58 - Water
$73.67 - Sewer
$110.25 - Total Cost (Including Fixed Costs - SAC, EC & FF)

10,000 gal Usage = $.011/ gal

Plus, my rate increases, not decreases, as I move up into different usage tiers. 

I thinkhere's where you math starts to get a little screwy:

I believe are the fixed costs that I mentioned above which aren't dependent of usage, but where you live.

Service Availability Charge - $26.7/month
Environmental Charge - $7.40 / month
Franchise Fee - $3.12 / month

So I'm looking at $37.22 before I even get a glass of flouride contaminated water.

And once you take those fixed costs out (thanks sprawling city) you're pay a little less than a $.01/gal

$57.06 - $37.22 = $19.84 / 2,000 gal = $.009 / gal

[Lunican]

It looks like they have been increasing their service availability charge pretty dramatically over the past few years. In 2008 the sewer service availability charge for a 3/4" meter was $6.57. Today it is $21.15.

Service Availability Rates 2008 - 3/4" meter
Water: $15.10
Sewer: $6.57
Total: $21.67

Service Availability Rates 2013 - 3/4" meter
Water: $18.90
Sewer: $21.15
Total: $40.05

[Lunican]

And once you take those fixed costs out (thanks sprawling city) you're pay a little less than a $.01/gal

$57.06 - $37.22 = $19.84 / 2,000 gal = $.009 / gal

I'm sorry, why would I take out the fixed costs when calculating the cost?

[Lunican]

By the way NRWS, you used 5 times as much water as I did and paid less than twice as much.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It looks like they have been increasing their service availability charge pretty dramatically over the past few years. In 2008 the sewer service availability charge for a 3/4" meter was $6.57. Today it is $21.15.

Service Availability Rates 2008 - 3/4" meter
Water: $15.10
Sewer: $6.57
Total: $21.67

Service Availability Rates 2013 - 3/4" meter
Water: $18.90
Sewer: $21.15
Total: $40.05

I'm sure you can thank all of the outlying developments for that. 

I'm sorry, why would I take out the fixed costs when calculating the cost?

You're right.  You shouldn't.  I would suggest using more water and lowering your per gallon cost to a price point per gallon that you're more comfortable with.  Maybe leave some hoses out and sign that let's your neighbors know that you feel $.025 is too much to pay for water and that you'd like them to help themselves so that you can pay closer to $.01 like a 'normal' person. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

And once you take those fixed costs out (thanks sprawling city) you're pay a little less than a $.01/gal

$57.06 - $37.22 = $19.84 / 2,000 gal = $.009 / gal

I'm sorry, why would I take out the fixed costs when calculating the cost?

because it magically makes the costs seem lower.

And this transparent ploy apparently works with a certain percentage of the people

Dear Stephen, you and I have already traveled this road. 

Since the 2 or so years that this thread originated, have you figured out a 'fair' price for electricity? 

[Lunican]

For comparison, I have a water bill from a suburb of Orlando and the total cost per gallon is 0.828 cents.

But keep in mind that JEA is the cheapest utility in the country so these numbers don't mean anything I guess.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

For comparison, I have a water bill from a suburb of Orlando and the total cost per gallon is 0.828 cents.

But keep in mind that JEA is the cheapest utility in the country so these numbers don't mean anything I guess.

Well damn.  So I guess if I only used 1 gallon, I'd be paying almost $30/gal - highway robbery if you ask me.  I can go to the store and get a gallon of water for about $1. 

This discussion is pointless.  Great.  You think you pay too much.  I'll call JEA for you and have them turn off the service.  What's the address?

[Lunican]

For the cheapest utility in the nation, they don't stack up that well in price.

Unless you first subtract random numbers from the bill... then they are ok.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

For the cheapest utility in the nation, they don't stack up that well in price.

Unless you first subtract random numbers from the bill... then they are ok.

I'm not reading back through both the threads.  Does JEA even claim (anymore) that they're the cheapest in the nation?

You would think if they were, it would be plastered all over their home page;  I didn't see it.

I'll go ahead and send an email to their marketing department.  A change is needed! 

"The Most Average, Uniquely Typical Utility in the Nation for the Time Being"

[tufsu1]

I'm not reading back through both the threads.  Does JEA even claim (anymore) that they're the cheapest in the nation?

not anytime recently that I know of.  JEA fits squarely in the middle among utility companies in Florida.  It is higher than some, such as Orlando Utilities Commission, and lower than others (like TECO in Tampa).