New City Utility Rates

REMINDER

As the City’s fiscal year of 2025-26 approaches, we want to remind our residents and businesses there will be a utility rate increase that was previously scheduled under Resolution 4559-25 that was passed in February 2025 .  Effective October 1, 2025, the Stormwater Rate will increase by 25%. The Water, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water rates will increase by 9%. The rates will be reflected in the November utility bills.  Utility Rates and Information in detail can be found below.

Residents can expect a notice of this reminder in the mail in the next few weeks.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the City of Oviedo Utility Customer Service line at 407-971-5535.

At the February 3, 2025 City Council Meeting, Resolution 4559-25 passed. Below is information provided by the city for Stormwater, Water, Reclaimed Water and Wastewater Utilities, reflecting the new rates.

“The City of Oviedo is dedicated to providing the highest level of utility services for our residents and businesses. The new rates are needed to ensure the City’s stormwater, potable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services not only meet but exceed the demand for today and the next five years.” said Bryan Cobb, City Manager.

What will the new rates be used for?

The new rates will be used for 4 (four) key utility components:

1. Stormwater 

2. Potable Water Usages 

3. Wastewater Treatment 

4. Reclaimed Water Usage


Why is this necessary?

The new rates are necessary for the Public Works Department to maintain and operate utilities for residents and businesses in the city. The new rates reflect the impact of increased costs for supplies, chemicals, replacement parts, utility vehicles, necessary engineering studies and needed infrastructure maintenance and improvements. The new rate's long-term goals are to ensure the City's utility infrastructure is adequate to provide the required services, resilient enough to withstand climate impacts and emergencies and to meet the demands of emergency operations such as fire suppression.

Stormwater - The new rates reflect the funding necessary to maintain and operate the utility as it ages. The new rates will cover the rising prices for repairs, replacing aging infrastructure and address water quality while meeting new regulatory requirements to reduce nutrients in the water.

Potable Water - To meet future potable water demands, the City will drill into the Lower Floridian Aquifer to extract brackish water that will require advanced water treatment.

Wastewater Treatment—The new rates reflect the funding necessary to maintain and operate the utility as it ages. The new rates will cover the rising prices for repairs and replacing aging infrastructure and address new regulatory requirements for wastewater systems. The City needs to construct a new, permanent wastewater disposal option to replace the percolation ponds located behind City Hall before 2034. 

Reclaimed Water Usage - The new rates reflect the funding necessary to maintain and operate the utility as it ages. The new rates will also cover the rising prices for repairs, replacing aging infrastructure and address the new regulatory requirements.  

How will my utility bill be affected?

From 2025 until 2033 residents will see an increase in utility bills that will rise by a certain percentage.  Here is the breakdown of how the adjustments will work by year, percentage and the monthly increase that will be seen in the utility bills. For the first two years of 2025 and 2026, the increase will be 25% with that percentage dropping until 2033.

After reviewing multiple alternative funding scenarios, the City Council's  September 30, 2024 work session, determined the City would continue with the existing billing method and implement rate adjustments needed to maintain projected debt service coverage and a targeted number of days cash on hand. Therefore, to continue to maintain revenue sufficiency and fund the current and anticipated capital improvements, the annual rate increases, shown in the tables below, were recommended. The FY 2025 adjustment will be effective February 1, 2025. All other adjustments will be effective on October 1 of each respective fiscal year, beginning October 2025 for FY 2026.


STORMWATER SYSTEM

The Stormwater Rate Study reviewed the cost of maintaining and operating the stormwater system as the city ages. The projected increase includes the rising prices for repairs, replacement of aging infrastructure, and addressing water quality. Due to new federal and state regulations, the City is working diligently to reduce the level of nutrients in the stormwater discharge. The current stormwater system consists of major outfalls, catch basins/inlets, ditches and swales. Ponds and stormwater pipes must be inspected, preserved and maintained regularly.

STORMWATER RATE INCREASE

Fiscal YearRate AdjustmentMonthly Rate Per ERU*
2025 Current Rate
$11.72
202525%$14.65
202625%$18.31
202715%$21.06
202815%$24.22
202915%$27.85

*ERU = Equivalent Residential Unit

What does the Stormwater Utility do?

Stormwater Utility Insert Flyer_Page_1

Critical responsibilities of stormwater utility


 Rate Adjustments projected for each fiscal year for Water, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water


Rate Adjustments20252026202720282029
Potable Water9%9%9%9%9%
Wastewater9%9%9%9%9%
Reclaimed Water9%9%9%9%9%


STORMWATER capital improvement projects

This is a map indicating the locations of stormwater cip projects that need to be done.

STORMWATER PROJECTS (PDF)


POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

The City’s Public Works Department is responsible for the potable water system which includes the water supply, treatment, and distribution system. The City’s only potable water supply is from the Upper Floridan Aquifer. The West Mitchell Hammock Water Treatment Facility treats the water and pumps it into the distribution system.  To meet future water demands and new water regulations, the City must utilize an alternative water supply such as the Lower Floridan Aquifer.  The rate increase will cover the continued maintenance of the existing water supply system and the major Capital Improvement Projects necessary to build the new water supply source from the Lower Floridian Aquifer and the required additional treatment system to meet all state and federal potable water quality regulations.

Residential POTABLE WATER Base Charge/Consumption

Base Charges2025 Existing2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
Per Dwelling$16.17$17.63$19.22$20.95$22.84$24.90
Usage per 1,000 Gallons2025 Existing2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
0-3,000$1.30$1.46$1.59$1.73$1.89$2.06
3,001-10,000$2.88$3.24$3.53$3.85$4.20$4.58
10,001-15,000$5.43$6.11$6.66$7.26$7.91$8.62
15,001-30,000$7.74$8.71$9.49$10.34$11.27$12.28
30,001 and above$9.09$10.23$11.15$12.15$13.24$14.43

 

RESIDENTIAL Irrigation Base Charge/Consumption

Base Charge2025 Existing2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
Per Dwelling$16.17$17.63$19.22$20.95$22.84$24.90
Usage per 1,000 Gallons 2025 Existing2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
0-10,000 Gallons$5.43$6.11$6.66$7.26$7.91$8.62
10,001 - 15,000$7.74$8.71$9.49$10.34$11.27$12.28
15,000 and above$9.12$10.27$11.19$12.20$13.30$14.50



WASTEWATER SYSTEM

The City’s Public Works Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection system and Oviedo Water Reclamation Facility. The proposed rates will cover the continued maintenance and include Capital Improvement Projects to meet changing regulations and community growth.  

RESIDENTIAL Base Charge/Consumption - WASTEWATER


Base Charge2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
Per Dwelling$41.74$45.50$49.60$54.06$58.93
Usage per 1,000 Gallons2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
0-10,000$6.21$6.77$7.38$8.04$8.76



RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM

The City provides reclaimed water for residential landscape and golf course irrigation from the Oviedo Water Reclamation Facility. The City receives a supplemental supply of reclaimed water from the Chuluota Wastewater Treatment Facility and Iron Bridge Regional Water Reclamation System. The City has committed to reducing the consumption of potable water through conservation efforts such as providing reclaimed water to current and future residents. The rate increase will cover the continual maintenance of the existing reclaimed water system and the expansion of the reclaimed water system to future users.   

Residential Base Charge/Consumption - RECLAIMED WATER


Base Charge2025 Existing2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
Per Dwelling$14.82$16.15$17.60$19.18$20.91$22.79
Usage per 1,000 Gallons2025 Existing2025 Starting February 12026
October 1		2027
October 1		2028
October 1		2029
October 1
0-15,000$1.78$1.94$2.11$2.30$2.51$2.74
15,001-30,000$2.64$2.88$3.14$3.42$3.73$4.07
30,000 and above$5.29$5.76$6.28$6.85$7.47$8.14


UTILITY PROJECTS

Map of Oviedo Proposed Utility Projects-FINAL

WATER/SEWER/RECLAIMED UTILITY PROJECTS (PDF)

The following documents are SAMPLE invoices with water and sewer calculations based on 8,000-gallon monthly usage. The reclaimed and irrigation calculations are based on 7,000-gallon usage.  Usages may vary for residents and commercial businesses.

Alafaya System - Potable Irrigation (PDF)

Alafaya System - Reclaimed (PDF)

Oviedo System - Potable Irrigation (PDF)

Oviedo System - Reclaimed (PDF)

Commercial Rates here - Highlighted in Yellow in the Document

Commercial and Multi-Dwelling Rates

Below is the January 27, 2025 Work Session Discussion

Below is the January 21, 2025 City Council meeting

Willdan Presentation to City Council on January 21, 2025 (PDF)

Below is the September 30, 2024 Work Session

Below is the July 29, 2024 Special Session discussing the Utility Rate Study

KEY POINTS BELOW:

  1. The new rates and charges are anticipated to generate sufficient financial resources to meet the requirements of the City's utilities based on the projected expenditures, transfers, customers and billable flows estimated for the 10-year projection Period.  The new rates are based on an assumed implementation date of February 1, 2025, with additional annual adjustments beginning on October 1, 2025.  To the extent that the implementation date is postponed, additional rate adjustments and/or appropriations from existing reserves may be necessary.

 

  1. The projection of billable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water flows is based on historical trends with regard to the average flow per user for each customer class.   The average water, wastewater, and reclaimed water flow per account is developed from historical customer data and are assumed to remain relatively constant for the 10-Year Projection Period.  The historical billing data was utilized to identify the average flow statistics for system customers.   For the analyses developed herein, it is assumed that the average usage statistics for the 10-Year Projection Period will be consistent with recent historical average usage levels as realized in recent years, or as otherwise assumed based on discussions with the City.  Applying the estimated average usage statistics, it is assumed that the water, wastewater and reclaimed sales will increase with the estimated growth in customers.  However, it is important to note that annual variations in rainfall and other climatological factors may influence the level of future water demands and the accompanying billable wastewater flows for the City.

  

  1. The economic conditions affecting the nation in recent years have had a significant impact on housing markets throughout the southeast region.  Changes in the market for new housing have a direct impact on the customer growth of utility systems providing service within those markets.  The continued economic changes make it increasingly more difficult to forecast financial expectations, both in the short run and particularly over a 5-year Projection Period as developed in this Study.  As such, it would be prudent management practice to readdress the analyses developed in the rate study reports on an annual basis in order to determine if the major assumptions and projections should be revised.  

 

  1. The City anticipates the use of long-term debt to finance approximately $50.7 million of the current Utility Systems’ required capital improvement program.  The related principal and interest payments on this assumed debt are included in the financial results presented in the rate study reports, as well as, the resulting rate adjustment recommendations.

  

  1. The rate structure changes in the rate study reports are primarily for purposes of equity and consistency with industry standards and to promote resource conservation, not necessarily for additional revenue generation.


Meeting the Utility and stormwater Systems Capital and Operating Expenses

Safe, effective and reliable utility service is a strategic necessity for the City of Oviedo. Potable water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and stormwater are the foundation of the City’s Utility Systems. The City utilized the services of a rate consultant to establish revenue requirements to meet the capital needs and projected increases in operating costs. The City’s historical and projected data was utilized to determine the revenue requirements.

The new rates help to ensure that the City has the means needed for future CIPs to support growth and changing regulatory requirements while continuing to have the necessary funds to sufficiently manage operations for the years to come.

Stormwater Rate Study Report

Water, Wastewater, Reclaimed Water Rate Study Report



Message sent out in Utility Bills:

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the Oviedo City Council will consider adopting Resolution No. 4559-25 which enacts certain increases to the utility rates, service charges, and fee schedules for City of Oviedo utility customers.

The City Council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 400 Alexandria Blvd. in the Council Chambers.