Westfield, Massachusetts, May 5, 2025 – Massachusetts utilities now have an updated digital platform for information on rate structures for more than 300 water and sewer systems across the Commonwealth. The Water & Wastewater Rates Dashboard, prepared by Tighe & Bond, Inc. in conjunction with the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of North Carolina School of Government, was released with data from a recent survey.

This interactive dashboard is designed to assist utility managers and local officials with benchmarking residential water and wastewater rates. It includes rate data for 326 public, quasi-public, and private utility companies, representing approximately 85% of water and sewer utilities in the Commonwealth.

“Aging infrastructure and more stringent regulations are requiring water and wastewater utilities to increase their investment in system improvements. Utilities need to balance these investment needs with their impact on customer rates and affordability. Our goal is to provide utilities with insights into industry trends, allowing them to make data-driven investment and ratemaking decisions,” said Peter Galant, PE, Vice President at Tighe & Bond. “The dashboard has a user-friendly interface, allowing users to compare utility rates against multiple attributes, such as system characteristics, socioeconomic conditions, and geography.”

Tighe & Bond prepared an executive summary of the surveys, outlining key findings from the studies:

• The cost of water and sewer service continues to rise at a consistent rate. Since 2000, water service costs have risen consistently at a rate of approximately 5% per year, while the cost of sewer service has increased at a rate of approximately 6% per year.
• Water and sewer billing cycles are becoming more frequent. Survey results show that many utility companies are switching from annual or semi-annual billing cycles to quarterly or monthly billing. More frequent billing provides customers with a direct signal between usage and cost – and can help detect customer-side leaks sooner.
• Rate structures are changing. Most utilities use rate structures that are based on usage, while the remainder use flat fees. Data shows a decline in utilities utilizing flat fees since 2000.

“The Water & Wastewater Rates Dashboard provides a valuable benchmarking tool for utility managers across Massachusetts for rate data, enabling strategic decision making that can shape the future of their systems,” said Tiffany Labrie, Water Business Line Leader at Tighe & Bond.

About Tighe & Bond 

Tighe & Bond is an employee-owned, regional consulting firm in the Northeast, specializing in water and wastewater, transportation, and building services engineering; site planning and design; landscape architecture; and environmental science. By focusing on bright ideas, green strategies, and clear solutions, the Tighe & Bond team develops sustainable solutions for our clients’ complex challenges.