Anchorage Assembly to vote June 23 on new water and sewer connection fees

Developers and builders connecting to water or sewer infrastructure built in 2025 would pay new per-square-foot charges under AO 2026-91, which the Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to consider on June 23. The ordinance was submitted by the Assembly chair at the request of the mayor and prepared by Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility. Existing AWWU customers are not affected.

The ordinance proposes 2025 Levy Upon Connection rates of $1.13330 per square foot for water and $2.46323 per square foot for sewer. The Assembly vote would not impose final rates directly. It would approve AWWU's submission of those proposed rates to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska for review. The request is supported by Tariff Rule 8.6, and the existing and proposed LUC rates are set out in Tariff Rule 13.1, Rate Schedule No. 1, Fees and Special Charges, Non-Recurring.

AWWU frames the Levy Upon Connection as a fairness mechanism: new connecting properties, rather than the existing customer base, pay for the infrastructure they require. Christine Metcalf, AWWU's acting regulatory affairs manager, wrote in the ordinance that "payment received for levied assessments are accounted for as capital contributions in aid of construction" and are not treated as operating revenues.

If the Assembly approves the ordinance, it takes effect immediately. AWWU then submits the proposed rates to the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, the state body that must approve utility rate filings before they take effect.

Metcalf is the listed contact for the ordinance and can be reached at (907) 786-5590.