Water prices in Bad Kreuznach rise: What customers need to know now!

Water prices in Bad Kreuznach rise: What customers need to know now!

Bad Kreuznach, Deutschland - The Stadtwerke Bad Kreuznach has decided to significantly increase drinking water prices as of January 1, 2025. This measure was approved by the general meeting of the Stadtwerke, which is against the background of rising costs and necessary investments in the water supply. The public reasons given for the price increase include high investments in the infrastructure, increasing interest expenses, higher depreciation as well as increased personnel costs and material prices. In addition, reference is made to increased expenses for services. However, customers do not receive a detailed explanation of the specific causes of this price increase, such as the Rhein-Zeitung reported.

The Stadtwerke Bad Kreuznach also work on a changeover of their water price system. Four years ago, a proposal for the introduction of a new system was developed, but it was rejected by political committees. A new attempt to switch is pending, as the municipal utility continues to see the need for adjustments. A switch to a "system price model" is planned, which should enable a fairer distribution of the costs. This model is based on the number of residential units, which means that the high fixed costs are to be distributed more fairly to all customers. As a rule, the changeover will take place neutral, so that there are no additional price increases. As lifewater.com reported the municipal utilities in Bad Kreuznach, two waterworks and 493 kilometers of line network, with 75 % of the costs fixed are.

switch to a fairer price system

The switch to a system price model aims to distribute the fixed costs more fairly and to make the cost structure more stable. Currently only 16 % of the water prices are fixed, while 84 % are dependent on demand. The goal is to approach the cost and price structure to each other in order to strengthen the revenue stability. A fixed component should be raised, while the quantity price is to be slightly reduced. The changeover could help master the challenges of demographic changes and climate change that lead to higher consumption peaks. The water savings effect is not influenced by the price change and such changes have now proven to be industry standard.

-transmitted by West-Ost-media