The DPU has issued a settlement to the Housatonic Water Works Rate Increase. The following rates are tied to performance benchmarks by HWW.
Proposed Rate Increases and Associated Capital Projects
| Phase Date of Increase | Amount of Increase | Increase Over Prior Year | Capital Project |
| 1 August 1, 2024 | $129,153 | 18.00% | New Chlorine Intake to Address Haloacetic Acids |
| 2 August 1, 2025 | $336,043 | 39.68% | Manganese Filtration System |
| 3 August 1, 2026 | $86,693 | 7.3 % | Great Barrington Fire District Interconnection |
| 4 August 1, 2027 | $171,050 | 13.47% | Water Storage Tank |
| 5 August 1, 2028 | $180,240 | 12.51% | Mains Replacements |
Consider This: Statement from Stockbridge Intervenor Patrick White
Stockbridge Select Board member Patrick White issued the following statement:
“I am disappointed the DPU and Attorney General neither reduced the rate of return nor mandated explicitly that the company fund improvements through publicly available financing. They put the onus on finding this funding on the taxpayers’ representatives, volunteers like me.
“The 1897 Charter gives the Town of Great Barrington the right to purchase the company under favorable terms. The Town should have done so long ago to protect the health and well-being of its residents and the users of this system in the adjoining towns.
“Under the Charter, the company may recoup its deficit. I would urge the Town of Great Barrington to litigate any claim of deferred compensation by the principals to protect its taxpayers from this “golden parachute” that seems to have been anticipated by management.
“Water is a human right. How about our local leaders finally have the backs of the residents of Housatonic, West Stockbridge, and Stockbridge and act quickly to finally put in place a plan to provide clean and safe drinking water on behalf of these long-aggrieved customers.”
You can read the DPU settlement here:
https://www.stockbridgeupdates.com/hww-dpu-23-65.pdf
You can read the 1897 HWW Charter that documents the acquisition provisions here:
http://www.waterworkshistory.us/MA/Housatonic/1897acts0229.pdf
