St. Pete to Evaluate Tiered Water Service
With St. Petersburg once again considering higher utility rates, a new report from the Center for Municipal Innovation suggests residents may be more accepting of future increases if they are given the opportunity to choose between multiple water subscription plans.
The $18.6 million study was commissioned following years of complaints about rising utility bills, with researchers concluding that residents aren’t necessarily opposed to paying more. They simply need more options.
Researchers say the proposed “Essential Plan” would continue providing mostly potable water while introducing adaptive flow management, allowing household water pressure to be reduced during periods of peak demand, similar to the way mobile carriers throttle data speeds during periods of network congestion.
“Consumers have become comfortable with tiered pricing for streaming services, internet and mobile phones,” lead researcher Graham Whitmore said. “There’s no reason municipal water shouldn’t evolve in the same direction.”
The report recommends a second “Lifestyle+” tier offering unrestricted water pressure, priority customer service and a personalized dashboard allowing residents to track their monthly consumption.
For those seeking a more premium experience, the proposed “Signature Reserve” package would include concierge billing, exclusive behind-the-scenes content and a complimentary stainless steel water bottle.
Experts insist the proposal is not intended to charge residents more for water, but rather to “better align the cost of services.”
The report also addresses complaints from residents who have recently received unexpectedly large water bills, recommending that customers experiencing unusually high charges be automatically matched with a service tier better suited to their usage.
