Guam Waterworks Authority spokeswoman Heidi Ballendorf said GWA entered into a five-year financial rate plan beginning August 2009 in which water rates were increased by 14 percent.
She said GWA will continue to raise its rates for both residential and commercial ratepayers each fiscal year until 2013.
GWA’s financial rate plan’s series of increase each succeeding year will amount to about 41 percent over the course of five years.
“The increase is the cost to do business with GWA,” said Ballendorf. “It goes toward operations and maintenance.”
She said GWA does not receive monetary assistance from the Government of Guam, thus, the water company increases water rates to maintain its water systems because Guam’s population is growing.
The 8 percent increase will also go toward capital improvement projects not related to the military buildup, she added.
Also beginning Oct. 1, GWA customers can pay their bills online. Customers can visit www.guamwaterworks.org or www.PayGwa.com.
