Anseong City to Raise Sewer Rates 12.9% on Average Next Year... Half of Households to See Rates Frozen

Five-year average increase lowered from 25% to 17.9%
KRW 421 billion to be invested in facility expansion by 2031

Anseong City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Kim Bora, will gradually raise sewage rates over five years starting next year. However, it will ease the burden on residents by expanding the usage bands in which household rates are frozen and increasing discounts for households with multiple children.

Anseong City Hall.

The city said on November 2 that it had initially considered a 25% annual increase but lowered the average increase over five years to 17.9% following discussions with the Consumer Policy Deliberation Committee and the city council. The average increase in the first year, 2027, will be 12.9%.

The household rate freeze band has been expanded from monthly use of up to 10 m3 to up to 13 m3. As a result, 49% of households will pay the current rate next year. For general-use customers, the unit rate for monthly usage of 1–50 m3 will also remain unchanged, meaning rates will not rise for 75% of small businesses.

Discounts for households with multiple children will also increase. The monthly discounted allowance for around 3,400 households with at least two children under 18 will rise from 5 m3 to 13 m3. These households will be exempt from sewage charges in full if their monthly usage is 13 m3 or less.

Before adjusting rates, the city worked to reduce facility operating costs and improve asset management. It cut repair and replacement expenses, power costs, and sludge treatment costs. It also reduced depreciation expenses by identifying duplicate asset entries through asset revaluation and updates to the asset register.

As a result, the total cost last year fell by KRW 6.21 billion from the previous year to KRW 41.42 billion. The city received a Grade B in this year's local public enterprise management evaluation, ranking first among urban-rural integrated cities in the province.

The city will also expand investment in sewage infrastructure. From 2027 to 2031, it plans to invest a total of KRW 421 billion in constructing and expanding public sewage treatment facilities, extending wastewater pipelines, expanding sewage services in townships, and upgrading aging facilities.

In particular, the city plans to extend sewage services to 28 township areas by 2030, raising the coverage rate from 65.1% to 74.7%. It will also expand public sewage facilities to meet demand for sewage treatment as the city grows.

An Anseong City official said, "This adjustment is intended to provide sustainable sewage services while minimizing the burden on residents. We will invest the funds secured in expanding facilities and upgrading aging infrastructure to create a pleasant living environment."

The new rates and discount criteria will apply starting with bills issued in February 2027 for usage in January 2027. The city plans to provide information on rates by usage level and how to apply for discounts through its website and notices accompanying bills.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.