Iredell Water Announces New Rate Structure and Rates for 2026

Statesville, NC, December 22, 2025: Today, Iredell Water announced its new rate structure and rates to take effect for the Calendar Year 2026.  The upgraded structure continues the utility’s long-held, long-term funding plan, which uses a steady schedule of rate and fee increases to cover rising operational costs while avoiding large hikes for major projects.  The minimum base charge reflects this approach; it will increase by 50 cents for all customers from $14.50 a month to $15.00 a month.

In addition to supporting the long-term funding plan, Iredell Water is introducing a conservation-based rate structure that provides several benefits to Iredell Water customers and Iredell Water itself.  The structure, which is strongly recommended by national and state water leaders, does the following:

• It enables customers who use less water to receive lower rates.
• It gives every customer the ability to lower their bills by being more mindful of their use and preventing water from being wasted.
• It encourages protection of Iredell Water’s overall water supply, especially during the summer months when water use is high and can lead to voluntary and mandatory restrictions.
• It lowers the possibility that Iredell Water will need to bring in additional sources of water during peak usage periods.
• It helps even out water use throughout the entire Iredell Water system, reducing the need for immediate and costly system upgrades.
• It gives Iredell Water a leg up with state funding opportunities.  Utilities with conversation-based rate structures receive additional points for use toward the approval of grants or low-interest loans, saving Iredell Water’s customers money in the long run through lower construction costs.

Nearly 75% of Iredell Water’s customers will not see a rate increase beyond the minimum base charge and a 20-cent increase for their first 5,000 gallons of use.  The rate for the first 5,000 gallons of use will move to $5.00 per 1,000 gallons.

For the 20% of Iredell Water’s customers who use 5,001 to 10,000 gallons of water, they will pay the 20-cent increase for their first 5,000 gallons of use and a new rate of $5.25 per 1,000 gallons for usage over the 5,000-gallon mark.

For the approximately 5 to 7% of customers who use more than 10,000 gallons a month, they will pay the 20-cent increase for their first 5,000 gallons for use and a new rate of $5.50 per 1,000 gallons for usage over the 10,000-gallon mark.

Tap fees – which recover the costs of installing new services and creating new water sources to support new connections – will also increase to ensure growth helps pay for growth.  The last tap fee adjustment was made in 2023.  

The new structure and rates were approved by Iredell Water’s Board of Directors on December 16^th.  “Our Board continues to look ahead at the future water needs of both the corporation and our community. Growth in our service area has accelerated over the last several years, and while we do not control how quickly that growth occurs, we are responsible for making sure water is available when people need it,” said Danny Sloan, Iredell Water GM/CEO.  

Sloan continued, “New water sources, whether purchased or built, will carry significantly higher costs than our current groundwater system. The rate adjustments and conservation structure for 2026 are part of preparing responsibly for that future, managing peak demand, and ensuring the system remains reliable for all customers as our area continues to grow.”

For more information about Iredell Water’s new rate structure and fees for 2026, visit the Iredell Water website at www.iredellwater.com. From the Customer Service menu, select Rates and Policies from the dropdown.