Philadelphia water bills: TAP-R reconciliation rates filed July 1, 2026
Philadelphia’s Water, Sewer & Storm Water Rate Board filed its official decision for the 2026 TAP-R reconciliation proceeding on July 1, 2026. The filing adopts TAP-R surcharge rates that will be applied to water and sewer quantity charges for service on and after September 1, 2026.
What the Rate Board filed on July 1, 2026
In its July 1 determination, the Rate Board adopted the TAP-R rates set out in the proceeding’s settlement, and authorized the Water Department to file revised TAP-R rates for services rendered on or after September 1, 2026.
What TAP-R is (and why it shows up on bills)
Philadelphia’s Tiered Assistance Program (TAP) reduces water and sewer bills for eligible low-income customers. TAP-R is the annual rider that:
- recovers revenue losses associated with the TAP discount, and
- tracks the under- or over-collection so there is an annual reconciliation (“true-up”) between projected and actual revenue impacts.
In practice, the TAP-R surcharge is charged to customers who do not receive the TAP discount.
The TAP-R surcharge rates that take effect Sept. 1, 2026
The adopted 2026 TAP-R rates are expressed per unit of water use (a “Mcf”):
- Water TAP-R: $5.41 per Mcf
- Sewer TAP-R: $7.56 per Mcf
Billing uses volume in Mcf, where 1 Mcf = 1,000 cubic feet = 7,480 gallons.
Board’s “typical residential” estimate (an example, not a guarantee)
The Rate Board’s determination includes a typical-use example. It says a typical residential customer with a 5/8-inch meter using .43 Mcf (430 cubic feet) of water per month would see a total monthly increase of $1.85 in TAP-R charges under the adopted 2026 rates.
That $1.85 figure is an estimate based on the Board’s assumptions. Your actual TAP-R change can be higher or lower depending on your household’s metered water use and your service characteristics.
How to estimate your own TAP-R change
- Match your meter size. Use the meter size listed for your account.
- Compare your monthly usage to the example. Since TAP-R is stated per Mcf, converting your approximate monthly use into Mcf can help you see whether you’re closer to (or further from) the Board’s .43 Mcf / 430 cubic feet “typical” assumption.
- Expect variation. Higher/lower water use generally means a higher/lower TAP-R charge than the “typical residential” example.
What to watch next on your bill
Once the September 1, 2026 effective date arrives, upcoming billing cycles should reflect TAP-R surcharge calculations using the adopted per-Mcf water and sewer rates. For the implementation-ready billing language and rate-application details, see the Philadelphia Water Department’s Final Rates & Charges exhibit.
Sources
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