Metropolitan Utilities District

[Coyote]

How does MUD's 'budget plan' billing work?



Prices seem to be rising everywhere we look. One talker lately: Water and gas bills from the Metropolitan Utilities District. Some customers say they've seen a surprising increase in their 'budget plan' billing, which is adjusted annually in order to keep the bill consistent from month-to-month. MUD announced its 2023 budget and projected annual cost increases, for the average user, of about $26 for gas and $18.50 for water. But some with those budgeted plans noticed their recent adjustments are more than that each month, and much more over the course of a year.

Kathy Kudron of Omaha says nothing has changed recently with how she uses gas and water. "I knew things were going to be going up, especially utilities," she said. But the jump in her budgeted MUD plan floored her. It went from $155 to $197. On a fixed income, she said a $42 increase is tough to swallow. "I'm on social security only," she said. "To me, that (the $42) was a bug jump. I was going to have to juggle things around. That also means maybe you don't get your full amount of groceries. She's hardly alone. Similar stories are all over the neighborhood-focused social media app Nextdoor. One reported an increase from $199 to $259. Another, $190 to $265.

[Coyote]

MUD working to make metro's gas infrastructure stronger and safer with $10 million grant



The Metropolitan Utilities District is working to make the metro's gas infrastructure stronger and safer, and it's getting $10 million in federal funds to do it. MUD is currently updating pipes that have been in place for decades or, in some cases, centuries. More than 420 miles of mains out of 560 have already been replaced.

Outside of the Lynch family home of nearly 40 years, near 36th and Cass streets, MUD is replacing the natural gas pipes. "This house was built in 1932, and it's probably one of the newer ones," John Lynch said. And the pipes underneath the Lynch family's neighborhood may be even older than the houses. "The cast iron pipes have been in place anywhere from the late 1800s all the way through about the 1950s," said Eric Gibbons, a MUD senior gas design engineer.

[Coyote]

M.U.D. sees increase in water main breaks in Omaha



Across the metro, you may have noticed lots of construction cones and blocked roads -- but not all of that is because of planned construction. Metropolitan Utilities District tells 6 News they’re seeing more water main breaks this year, and are trying to resolve the issue. Right now, several intersections are closed down due to the sudden repair of water mains, and one of those includes 42nd Street from Harney to Farnam. The water main there broke last Monday, and repairs won’t be finished for another two weeks.

[Coyote]

Metropolitan Utilities District again extending outdoor water use restrictions for Omaha area



The Metropolitan Utilities District is again extending outdoor water use restrictions for the Omaha area after a pipe failure at a water plant.

[Coyote]

M.U.D. extends voluntary water restrictions in Omaha



M.U.D. has extended the voluntary water restriction in Omaha in the wake of several main breaks in the city.

[Coyote]

'Significant things need to be replaced':
Plattsmouth restricts water use, works to repair water plant



PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. — There are mandatory water restrictions for people living in Plattsmouth. The city said it's working to make emergency repairs on the water treatment plant, while it plans the long-term solution to the problem. Emily Bausch, the city administrator, said the city is still recovering from the historic flooding in 2019. The water caused damage to the treatment plant, she says they've been putting band-aid repairs on since. "It's like in cartoons when one spring flies out, then another spring flies out, and then everything else flies out, it's kind of like that, so we're putting the springs back in," Bausch said.

[Coyote]

MUD board to vote on rate increases Wednesday



The MUD board will vote on water and gas rate increases on Wednesday. The agenda says they'll support infrastructure projects and increased costs.

MUD says the average user would spend less on utilities despite the rate change, because the cost of natural gas has declined.

MUD projects are causing traffic to back up on 90th Street heading south to Center Road or north to Pacific Street.

[skinzfan23]

From the story:
For water, the utility is proposing an 8.5% increase for residential rates. For gas, a 2.5% increase.

Ridiculous, they say it won’t affect people bc gas prices are down…yeah they are for now but we all know that can change in a hurry. Their rate increases are getting out of hand.

[thenewguy]

someone has to be the one screwing over everyone

[Coyote]

A look at Plattsmouth's flood recovery:
New water system 3 years away



PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. — It's been five years, but Plattsmouth is still dealing with the fallout from the floods of 2019. The city's wastewater and water treatment plants were under water. A permanent fix is still three years away, according to city officials. Now, the city is doing what it can with its damaged water system. There's been plenty of issues along the way, including discolored water, which the city says was sage, and asking residents to limit water usage.

"(The year) 2011 was supposed to be a hundred-year flood," Plattsmouth Mayor Paul Lambert said. " I never thought I'd see another one. Then 2019 came along, and it's been tough." Now, both plants have barriers that Lambert says would protect the water infrastructure should a flood matching 2019 come again. But that's not the long-term plan. A new wastewater treatment plant is under construction, much farther from the river. A new line to connect Plattsmouth to the Metropolitan Utilities District's water as a new source is in the design phase, set to be complete in late spring 2017.