Pioneer Water approves Rate Increase

In anticipation of their project to build a treatment plant, the policymakers for Pioneer Rural Water District have approved a rate increase. Sister station WGOG reports the $1.30 increase on the base rate for a customer’s bill will go into effect in 60 days and is estimated to generate $350,000 in additional revenue for the water supplier serving parts of southern Oconee and northern Anderson counties. The rate increase was approved during the same meeting that the Pioneer board of directors received the latest timeline for the plant construction project. The revised project budget amounts to $17.5 million. On Pioneer’s behalf, the Design South engineer and planning firm has submitted an application for a loan of $16.5 million from the USDA’s Rural Development Department.