BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Utility rate increases for Bellingham residents are set to come with the new year.

The City of Bellingham is reminding residents of the upcoming change to water service costs beginning in January.

On average, water customers will see an average increase of 13.5%, with additional increases planned in the coming years.

According to Public Works, the increase helps keep up with investments needed to maintain and upgrade infrastructure for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems. Some of the systems currently in place are more than a century old.

The Bellingham City Council voted in favor of the increase in July this year.

As a way to assuage financial hardship under the rate change, the city will expand the Customer Assistance Program.

The new rules expand eligibility to receive reduced rates for households at or below 80% of the area median income beginning in 2026.