To pay for a fourth water plant and other infrastructure, residents in Columbus and its suburbs could see their water and sewer bills go up in 2026 by more than $100 annually.
The proposed rate increase is about double the increases customers saw in recent years, but this larger increase could be the norm for years to come, one official warned.
Columbus Water & Power – which bills for water, sewer and stormwater services in the city and provides water and sewer service to most of the rest of Franklin County – is proposing a 11.7% composite increase for Columbus residential customers in 2026 and a 12.8% composite increase for residential customers outside the city.
This jump comes after more than a decade of rate increases hovering around 5%. In 2025, Columbus residents saw a 6% increase. But Jonathan Lee, deputy director for finance for Columbus Water & Power, said the department expects annual water rate increases to be higher for several years, perhaps until around 2032.
Columbus Water & Power is also proposing a 13% increase for the city’s residential electric customers. Although most area residents get their electricity from AEP Ohio, the city’s Division of Power has about 19,000 residential and commercial electricity customers and their payments also power the city’s streetlights.
All these proposed rate increases will be discussed at a Columbus City Council hearing on Nov. 13. The council will first consider the legislation at its meeting on Nov. 17 and vote on rates at the following meeting on Nov. 24. The department’s proposed rate increases already passed the Utility Advisory Board in late October.
Lee said the department is aware it is asking for a significant increase.
Columbus City Councilmember Christopher Wyche, chair of the Public Utilities & Sustainability committee, told The Dispatch the original proposal from Columbus Water & Power was even higher. The department previously floated a 25% increase for residential water rates for city residents alone, he said.
Wyche said he has worked in recent months with the department to lower the ask, but he’s still expecting tough questions from his council colleagues.
“We are a city trying to balance growth and equity at the same time,” Wyche said. “We have these massive projects that are coming up to prepare for this growth.”
At the same time, Wyche said, people’s budgets are tight with everything going on nationally.
He encouraged residents to provide feedback at his committee’s hearing on Nov. 13 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. People who wish to testify, can email remarks to CLGolterman@columbus.gov by noon on Nov. 12.
“I believe this is the best case scenario to meet our debt obligations while keeping cost as low as possible,” Wyche said.
The latest estimate for the cost of building the Home Road Water Plant in southwest Delaware County plus connecting it to the city’s water lines is $2.3 billion. It’s expected to begin pumping water in 2031.
Among other projects, the city is also replacing remaining lead service lines to the tune of $1 billion; building two new reservoirs in northwest Delaware County for an estimated $300 million; and spending an estimated $374 million to continue Blueprint Columbus, a program to upgrade sanitary sewers to prevent flooding.
How much could this cost Columbus water customers?
If these rate increases pass, an average household of about three people in Columbus could see its annual bill for water, sewer and stormwater rise $126 from $1,073 to $1,199 in 2026, according to Columbus Water & Power estimates. Customers outside the city in an average suburban household could see its annual bill for water and sewer in 2026 rise from $1,163 to $1,312, an increase of about $150.
Lee emphasized that assistance is available for low-income customers.
The Utility Advisory Board approved increasing the discount for low income ratepayers from 25% off usage charges to 30% off. Last year, the city increased the income threshold for the discount to 200% of the federal poverty level. Seniors age 60 and over may also qualify for an additional discount.
To sign up for the discount programs for water and power, you can go to columbus.gov/payassist or call (614)-645-8276 during business hours on weekdays.
An average low income household registered for the discount can expect their annual water and sewer bill to go up by about $103 next year.
Even with the proposed increases, Columbus Water & Power bills for water and sewer services are on the lower end for the region and compared to other nearby big cities. Westerville and Franklin County charge their customers more than Columbus, officials said.
Changes coming for commercial and industrial water customers
A recent study by Columbus Water & Power found that the city was undercharging for new construction to get hooked up to the city’s water and sewer systems. The 2026 rate proposals also recommend increasing those one-time fees, called capacity fees, particularly for large industrial construction.
Starting in April, capacity fees would double, rising by around $500,000 for large customers like a new hospital, manufacturing facility, data center, power plant or distribution warehouse.
Columbus Water & Power also previously charged lower rates to large commercial and industrial customers that guzzle water. In a declining block structure meant to incentivize companies to build here, as a business’ water usage increases, the cost for the water decreases.
Now the city department is proposing a uniform rate structure, which would lower costs in 2026 for smaller commercial businesses and raise costs for larger industrial businesses. Lee said this new system would be more equitable, but ultimately bring in a similar amount of revenue.
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Council mulling big water bill hikes in 2026 for city, suburban customers
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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