Weatherly residents will soon be paying more for water, sewer and electricity, as borough council approved increases as part of its 2025 preliminary budget Monday night.

Borough Manager Harold Pudliner said the electricity increase comes as a result of a rate increase by the PJM Interconnection, raising rates for wholesale electricity in the 13 states it covers.

“We’re looking at requesting a 15% rate increase in electric, a 25% rate increase in water, based on the fact of the electric increase and (state Department of Environmental Protection) requirements for anti-corrosive work that has to be done with our system,” he said.

The borough must spend more on chemicals and equipment as part of the DEP requirements for the water system, he said.

The sewer rate will also increase $5 a month to $40, which is about a 10% increase, Pudliner said, also reflecting the higher electricity rate and other DEP requirements that must be met in the coming year.

The rate increase was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Norman Richie voting no. Councilwoman Theresa D’Andrea and Mayor Paul Hadzick were absent.

Councilman Joseph Cyburt said that he brought in his water and sewer bills to check how the increases would affect residents’ bills.

“It’s really nominal. It’s not like it should knock anyone’s socks off, if you watch a little bit,” he said. “It’s something that we have to do.”

The last rate increase was in 2008 and there was a meter increase in 2022.

Pudliner could not provide an estimate of how much rates would go up for the average customer, saying it depends upon a resident’s usage.

Council also approved the preliminary budget for 2025 on 4-1 vote, with Richie voting no. Other than the rate increase, there was no other discussion on the budget.

Pudliner noted that staff put a great deal of work into the budget due to the electricity increase, running numerous matrices to ensure the increase could be sustained and meet the needs.

The budget will be available for public inspection once advertised, Pudliner said. A final budget will be adopted before the end of the year, he said. No copies of the budget were available for the public during the meeting.