RENO — The Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s (TMWA) Board of Directors approved an increase to water rates at its meeting Thursday morning. The rate adjustment, which affects all TMWA customers effective June 1, calls for an increase of $1.10, or 2.79 percent on the average metered residential customer’s monthly water bill.

Most commercial customers will see a 3.3 percent increase — a change of $1.89 for the average commercial bill per month.

The last water rate hike by TMWA was in March 2005 and was approximately 3.5 percent overall.

In a press release, the Board cited that the main reason for the rate adjustment is increased operating and maintenance expenses since the last rate adjustment more than four years ago. The rate hike comes despite TMWA management reports that it plans to reduce operating expense, including all employee concessions and eliminated positions, by $1.1 million for fiscal year 2010.

According to TMWA, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 gave many concessions toward the expense reductions, including the elimination of pay increases for fiscal year 2009-2010, as well as a reduction in labor expenses of three percent in fiscal year 2010.

“IBEW 1245 was very sensitive to TMWA’s increased operations and maintenance costs and partnered with TMWA to respond to current financial conditions,” said Mark Foree, TMWA’s newly appointed general manager.

The Board also approved the delay of the date to convert the remaining TMWA customers billing on the flat rate to metered billing from January 2010 to no sooner than June 2010.

To review the new rate schedule or view TMWA’s budget and financial information, visit the Latest News section at www.tmh2o.com, or call (775) 834-8080, option 2.