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KNOWING HOW TO READ YOUR JEFFERSON
[Utility Bill Explainer]
PARISH UTILITY BILL HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND THE SERVICES YOU'RE PAYING FOR AND CONNECTS THE INVESTMENTS YOU'RE MAKING TO SUPPORT UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.ON THE TOP RIGHT OF YOUR UTILITY BILL, YOU WILL SEE THE DAYS OF SERVICE FOR YOUR MOST RECENT BILLING CYCLE, THE DATE YOUR METER WAS LAST READ, AND THE AMOUNT OF WATER CONSUMED WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD.
IN JEFFERSON PARISH, RESIDENTS RECEIVE A UTILITY BILL EVERY OTHER MONTH ON THE MIDDLE OF YOUR UTILITY BILL, YOU'LL SEE A LIST OF ITEMIZED CHARGES FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN YOUR AREA.
THE WATER CONSUMPTION FEE AND SEWER USAGE FEE ARE BASED ON HOW MUCH WATER YOUR HOUSEHOLD USED WITHIN THAT BILLING CYCLE.
WATER AND SEWER SERVICE FEES ARE FIXED COSTS THAT GO TOWARDS MAINTAINING THE SYSTEMS. THESE FEES ALSO REFLECT A GRADUATED RATE INCREASE TO HELP UPDATE AND FUND VITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO JEFFERSON PARISH'S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
IF YOU LIVE IN UNINCORPORATED JEFFERSON PARISH IN THE TOWN OF JEAN LAFITTE, YOU'RE ALSO CHARGED A GARBAGE SERVICE FEE OF $50 AND 40 CENTS EVERY BILLING CYCLE DUE TO A NEW GARBAGE CONTRACT.
THIS FEE HAS INCREASED BY $10 AND 64 CENTS PER BILL, STARTING IN JANUARY, 2024.
OTHER FEES ON YOUR UTILITY BILL MAY INCLUDE MOSQUITO CONTROL, RECREATION, AND A SAFE WATER FEE, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN 2021.
THE JEFFERSON PARISH ADMINISTRATION REQUESTED AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED GRADUATED WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD.
RATE INCREASES BEGAN JANUARY 1ST, 2022, WITH THE GOAL OF CONSTRUCTING IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN ESTABLISHING A PIPE REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE DETERIORATION OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
SO HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST YOU? JEFFERSON PARISH'S WATER AND SEWER RATES ARE STILL FAR BELOW NEIGHBORING PARISHES AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THE NEW RATES BRING US CLOSER TO WHAT IS CHARGED BY COMPARABLY SIZED SYSTEMS AND ALLOW US TO BEGIN NEEDED UPGRADES AND CONTINUE MAINTENANCE.
A RESIDENT WHO USES 12,000 GALLONS OF WATER FOR A TWO MONTH PERIOD SHOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $27 ON THE UTILITY BILL.
KEEP IN MIND, THE MORE WATER YOU USE, THE HIGHER YOUR BILL WILL BE EACH MONTH.
FOR EVERY ADDITIONAL 1000 GALLONS ABOVE 6,000 GALLONS CONSUMED, THE BILL WILL GO UP APPROXIMATELY $13 AND 25 CENTS.
THAT'S $8 AND 46 CENTS FOR SEWER USAGE AND $4 AND 79 CENTS FOR WATER USAGE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT MOST WATER USAGE COMES FROM SHOWERS, FAUCETS, TOILETS, AND WASHING MACHINES? IF YOU NOTICE UNUSUALLY HIGH WATER USE ON YOUR UTILITY BILL, YOU MAY HAVE A LEAK.
PLEASE CONTACT THE JEFFERSON PARISH WATER DEPARTMENT AT 5 0 4 7 3 6 60 60 SO THAT THEY CAN INVESTIGATE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INCREASES TO WATER AND SEWER RATES, VISIT JEFF PARRISH.NET/RAKE.