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2025-2026 Budget and Rates Process

This fall, our 2025-2026 budgets will go to the Public Utility Board and Tacoma’s City Council for approval. The proposals include rate adjustments for Tacoma Power and Tacoma Water. The Tacoma City Council will also review rate proposals for Environmental Services (Wastewater, Solid Waste, and Stormwater) after receiving recommendations from the Environmental Services Commission.

Tacoma Water rates will go into effect on January 1, and Tacoma Power rates will go into effect on April 1.

As part of the budget process, our staff participates in many public meetings to hear feedback and answer questions.

Click here to download a printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a printable one-sheet of the commercial rate proposals. 

Submit a comment online here.

Translated Residential Rate One-Sheets

Residential

Click here to download a Spanish printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Russian printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Vietnamese printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Korean printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Khmer printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Ukranian printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Commercial

Click here to download a Spanish printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Russian printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Vietnamese printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Korean printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Khmer printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

Click here to download a Ukranian printable one-sheet of the residential rate proposals. 

2024 Public Meetings and Presentations

March 27: Public Utility Board Study Session

April 10: Public Utility Board Study Session

April 24: Public Utility Board Study Session

May 8: Public Utility Board Study Session

May 22: Public Utility Board Study Session

July 10: Public Utility Board Study Session

Aug. 14: Public Utility Board Study Session

Aug. 20: Tacoma Government Performance and Finance Committee and Joint Study Session

Aug. 28: Public Utility Board Study Session

Sept. 5: Central Neighborhood Council

Tacoma Nature Center
1919 South Tyler Street 
Tacoma, WA 98405  

Sept. 9: Northend Neighborhood Council

University of Puget Sound 
Presentation Room (#102) in the Welcome Center 
N. 15th St. and N. Alder St.
6-7:30 p.m. 

Sept. 9: South End Neighborhood Council

Virtual  
7-8:30 p.m.

Sept. 10: Latinx Unidos of the South Sound

Ebony and Ivory Coffee 
1145 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, WA 98402 
3-4 p.m.

Sept. 11: Public Utility Board Study Session

Sept. 11: New Tacoma Neighborhood Council

University of Washington, Tacoma, GWP Building, 3rd Floor, Dawn Lucien Board Room
1754 Pacific Ave.
Tacoma WA
5:30-7:00 p.m. 

Sept. 11: West End Neighborhood Council Meeting

Fire Station 16 
7217 6th Avenue 
7-8:30 p.m.

Sept. 17: Tacoma Government Performance and Finance Committee

Sept. 23: City of Lakewood

Lakewood City Hall Council Chambers 
6000 Main St. SW; Lakewood, WA 98499

Sept. 24: City of Fife

Fife City Hall  
5411 23rd St. E. Fife WA 98424

Sept. 30: Public Utility Board Special Meeting

Sept. 30: Hilltop Action Coalition

Bryant Neighborhood Center  
1619 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA  98405 
6-7:30 p.m.

October 1: Tacoma Government Performance and Finance Committee

Oct. 8: Pierce County Council

Oct. 9: Public Utility Board Meeting

Oct. 12: Black Collective

2316 S Yakima Ave  
Tacoma, WA 98405

Oct. 16: South Tacoma Neighborhood Council

STAR Center 
3873 South 66th Street 
Tacoma, WA 98409

Oct. 22: City of Fircrest

Fircrest City Hall Council Chambers  
115 Ramsdell St. Fircrest, WA 98466 
7:00 pm

Oct. 23: Public Utility Board Meeting

  • Preliminary Budget and Rates Approval – Board 2nd Reading

Oct. 28: Metro Parks Tacoma

Star Center
3873 66th St., Tacoma, WA 98409  

2023-2024 Budget and Rates Process

Click here to download a printable one-sheet about TPU’s 2023-2024 residential rate proposals.

Click here to download a printable one-sheet about TPU’s 2023-2024 commercial rate proposals.

Looking for information about Environmental Services rates? Visit the City of Tacoma’s website to learn about Solid Waste, Wastewater, and Stormwater rate and contact information.

Reasons for rate adjustments

As public utilities, we set rates to cover the costs of essential services. This includes the cost of providing safe, reliable services, maintaining our systems, protecting natural resources near our facilities, complying with regulations, and investing in upgrades that improve your services.

Primary factors affecting 2025-2026 rates:

  • Increased costs to operate and maintain our systems
  • Inflation in materials and supplies
  • Ongoing impacts from losing one of our largest commercial water customers

Average utility construction costs have increased over 20-30% in the last three years. 

 We need to increase our rates to cover these higher costs. By gradually increasing rates over time, we can prevent large increases while still providing the services you rely on.  

Increased costs from inflation

Like our customers, we are experiencing increased costs for equipment, fuel, personnel, and other expenses.

Supply chain shortages

Delays and difficulty buying equipment also result in increased costs and limited resources.

Postponed projects

We reduced costs during the pandemic by delaying maintenance projects that now need to continue.

Impacts of COVID-19

During the pandemic, we reduced our budget and rate increases for 2021 and 2022. Many customers also had outstanding balances following the pandemic.

Expanded payment assistance

To help our customers having difficulty paying their bills, we expanded our assistance programs for those who qualify.

  • More customers are able to meet the eligibility requirements.
  • Income-qualified households may qualify for increased assistance of up to $888 annually. The assistance amount depends on the number of utility services the customer receives.
  • Assistance funds will cover the majority of rate increases in 2023 and 2024.

We hope this expanded assistance will help those most in need.

How we manage costs

  • Pursuing state and federal grants to fund projects that improve the customer experience, including:  
    • Bureau of Reclamation Water Smart Grant to offset the costs of advanced water meters.
    • American Public Power Association – Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments paid for a Heat Pump Water Heating pilot in two Tacoma Housing Authority multi-family buildings.
    • The WA Department of Commerce (Public Works Board FY2023) helps cover the costs of a new water pump station at Fennel Creek.  
  • Refinancing our loans and bonds to a lower rate so we pay less in interest. 
  • Recycling and selling equipment and property we no longer need. 

How we address equity when planning rates

  • Providing payment assistance programs for those in need.
  • Delivering equitable services to customers and visitors.
  • Working to reflect our community by hiring and retaining diverse employees.
  • Coordinating with community groups to share information.

 

Ways to manage your bills

Budget Billing can help you manage your monthly budget.

Online payment resources provide several new options.

Power and water conservation can lower your costs and are good for the environment.

Payment assistance is available if you qualify.

Sewer conservation loans can help with private side sewer repair.

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