Cincinnati City Council Approves Revised Water Rate Structure Affecting Household Utility Bills

Cincinnati City Council voted 6-3 on July 7 to enact a revised water rate ordinance that updates the tiered pricing schedule used by Cincinnati Water Works. The measure applies to all residential accounts served by the utility, including single-family homes and multi-unit buildings in neighborhoods such as Price Hill and Bond Hill. Under the new schedule, the first 1,000 gallons per month remain at the prior rate while higher usage blocks increase by set increments.

Background on the rate revision process

The ordinance follows a series of public hearings held by the council’s finance committee in June. City staff presented data from the 2026 operating budget showing that maintenance costs for aging distribution lines and treatment facilities had risen since the last adjustment in 2023. Council members reviewed the same figures before the final vote, which also included provisions for low-income assistance credits administered through the existing customer assistance program.

For Cincinnati residents, the change means monthly water and sewer bills will reflect the updated tiers beginning with the September billing cycle. A household using 4,000 gallons per month will see the second and third blocks recalculated, while accounts using less than 2,000 gallons will experience smaller shifts. Renters in multi-family properties will encounter the new rates indirectly through landlord pass-through adjustments that typically occur within 60 days of the utility notice.

Local budget documents indicate that Cincinnati Water Works collected approximately $142 million in residential revenue in the prior fiscal year. The revised ordinance projects an average annual increase of $48 for the median single-family account, though actual amounts depend on consumption patterns recorded by individual meters. The legislation directs the utility to publish updated rate tables on its website by July 15 and to mail notices to all residential customers by August 1.

City council staff stated that the next step involves implementation by the water works division, including updates to billing software and training for customer service representatives. Residents with questions about the assistance program may contact the utility’s call center starting July 20. Further council review of the rate structure is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027 as part of the annual budget cycle.