Rates and Charges

Competitiveness and value

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) strives to keep wastewater rates below the national average for large-sized utilities. We also contribute to the economic vitality of the region through quality and cost-effective wastewater utility management.

The chart below compares Twin Cities metro area retail rates (city rates, which include our wholesale charges) to other publicly owned treatment systems around the country. Information is from the 2020 National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Financial Survey, and compares average annual retail rates (the chart includes all agencies that treat more than 100 million gallons per day and reported their rates to NACWA; in 2020, this was 20 agencies). Of these 20, the Twin Cities region has the eighth lowest average retail sewer rate (63% have higher rates). Our region’s average rate is 35% lower than the peer group average.

A chart showing the average retail sewer charges per household for large-sized utilities per NACWA's 2019 survey. The average across all peer utilities is $535, while MCES has the eighth-lowest rate at $347.

Municipal residential wastewater retail rates

In 2019, the regional average retail residential sewer rate per household in the Twin Cities for wastewater treatment was $347. That yearly charge is about 35% lower than the national average ($535) for peer reporting agencies.

Comparison of rates based on NACWA's survey:

Year Twin Cities Average Retail Rate[1] National Average Rate[2] % Twin Cities is lower National Ranking[3]
2019 $347 $535 35% 8 of 20 (63rd percentile)
2016 $274 $468 41% 4 of 23 (86th percentile)
2013 $235 $404 40% 7 of 25 (75th percentile)
2010 $216 $393 45% 5 of 24 (83rd percentile)
2007 $195 $318 42% 5 of 22 (81st percentile)
2004 $181 $261 26% 6 of 23 (77th percentile)
2001 $186 $226 23% 6 of 31 (83rd percentile)
1998 $177 $222 23% 8 of 29 (72nd percentile)
1995 $171 $221 24% 8 of 29 (75th percentile)

[1]: Rate reported to NACWA in their triennial survey.
[2]: Includes peer agency group (those that treat more than 100 million gallons per day) from NACWA's triennial survey. [3]: Because of the different number of responses in each year, our percentile rank is also provided. This represents the percentage of respondents that reported higher retail rates than MCES.

2022 Survey of Municipal Residential Wastewater Rates (PDF)

Comparing the value

When compared to other household service costs, the Twin Cities average retail charge for sewer service is a bargain. The following graph shows average household costs per month.

Chart comparing monthly utility costs as follows: Cable TV(1): $103; Electricity(2): $90; Cell Phone(3): $80; Landline & internet(4): $71; Natural Gas(5): $55; Trash(6): $32; Water(7): $28; Sewer(8): $26; Stormwater(9): $11.

Sources

  1. Cable TV: $103--Average spent on paid TV in 2017 according to Leichtman Research Group
  2. Electric: $90--Minnesota average in 2019 per electrictylocal.com
  3. Cell Phone: $80--Average cell phone bill in 2019 per moneysavingpro.com
  4. Landline & internet: $71--CenturyLink $65 charge plus fees in 2019
  5. Natural Gas: $55--CenterPoint Energy average residential customer bill in 2018
  6. Trash: $32--Average of small cart and large cart service in Minneapolis in 2019
  7. Water Supply: $28--Average of St. Paul ($25 per St. Paul Regional Water Services) and Minneapolis ($31 for using 5,000 gallons per month) rates in 2019
  8. Sewer Service: $26--Average retail rate per household in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in 2018. MCES receives a portion of this amount (about 60%), with the remaining going to city governments
  9. Stormwater Utility fee: $11--Average of two lowest rates (Group 1 and Group 2) in Minneapolis in 2019

Contact us

Ned Smith
[email protected]
651-602-1162