At the Nov. 14 Lower Providence Sewer Authority meeting, board members approved of a billing increase for township ratepayers, which is expected to go into effect by January 2013.

The rate increase coincides with the Lower Perkiomen Valley Regional Sewer Authority (LPVRSA) increase, which was discussed by the board at its Oct. 10 meeting.

The LPVRSA rate increase called for an additional $10 per year for all ratepayers in the six-municipal region. In Lower Providence there are approximately 11,000 EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Unit) customers.

According to Robert Tschoepe, treasurer of the Lower Providence Sewer Authority, in order to manage the authority’s debt service bond-issued payments for the upcoming years, as well as other expenses, the authority will also include a billing increase of $10 per year.

The combined expected increase for Lower Providence EDU customers would then be $20 per year or $5 per quarter. Ratepayers can expect a total bill of $77 per quarter or $308 per year.

According to Tschoepe, this is the first increase the authority has given ratepayers since 2007.  He also pointed out that within the last decade, rate increases amounted to $160, where $40 has been from the Lower Providence Sewer Authority and $120 from the LPVRSA.

Tschoepe said the debt service may be paid off by 2021, should EDU sales increase in the township. He added that new construction is needed to increase such sales.

Ratepayers may expect to receive a notification of the increase in the mail come January, and see their adjusted bill by the end of the first quarter in April.