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Charleston Water System: Lowcountry Rapid Transit could force $68M in utility relocations, raise rates
Summary
Charleston Water System told county council that utility relocations tied to the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project and other transportation sales-tax projects could cost the utility roughly $68 million, driving a projected 3% rate increase for customers starting in 2026 on top of an already approved 7% hike.
Russell Huggins, capital projects officer for Charleston Water System, told Charleston County council members that the utility expects nearly $64 million in construction costs and about $4 million in engineering costs to relocate water infrastructure for the Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) project and other transportation sales-tax projects. “Within that corridor, CWS has estimated almost $64,000,000 in construction costs for water utility relocation. In addition to that, we have about $4,000,000 in engineering costs,” Huggins said.
Huggins said those relocation obligations are in addition to roughly $50 million identified for other planned transportation projects funded through the county sales tax, producing an estimated total pressure on CWS capital needs of roughly $112 million across all county transportation-sales-tax projects. He said the utility will rely on municipal bond sales to pay the costs, with…
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