Letter to Editor: City resident concerned with rising utility costs

I am writing as a Portland resident and homeowner to express serious concern about the rising cost of our city utility bills.

For context, I live in a three-bedroom, one-bath home with my husband and our two sons. Our most recent utility bill — covering water, sewer, trash, and electricity — was $390.39 for just 34 days. That is nearly $400 for a single month, which feels extremely high for a modest family home in a small rural town like Portland.

Here’s how the bill breaks down:

        •       Water: $48.64

        •       Sewer: $110.48

        •       Trash (refuse): $15.00

        •       Electric: $216.25 (including $35.58 in “power cost adjustment” surcharges)

To put this into perspective:

        •       The average Michigan family of four typically pays about $210–$285/month total for all utilities (water, sewer, trash, electric).

        •       In Portland, my family is paying $100–$180 more every month than the state average.

        •       Sewer alone is over $110/month, which is significantly higher than many surrounding communities.

        •       Electricity is inflated by add-on fees like the “power cost adjustment,” which alone cost us nearly $36 this month.

Even before we use any water or electricity, we are paying a large amount in flat fees — service charges just to stay connected. These fees mean families are locked into paying $60–$70 minimum, no matter how much they conserve.

Many Portland residents are on fixed incomes, live modestly, or are elderly. These bills are becoming unaffordable and are pushing our small community in a direction that feels less like a rural town and more like a high-cost city.

I believe we, as residents, deserve:

        1.      Transparency: Clearer breakdowns of how much is flat fees versus usage-based charges.

        2.      Accountability: An explanation for why Portland’s rates are so much higher than state averages.

        3.      Dialogue: A town hall or public meeting dedicated to addressing utility rates, where residents can bring their bills and ask questions directly.

I am asking my fellow residents to share your experiences as well. Write to the Portland Beacon, attend City Council meetings, and make your voices heard. Together, we can ask our city leaders for fairer and more transparent billing practices that reflect the needs of our community.

Respectfully,

Melody Brown

Portland, MI Resident

Editors note: The piece above was submitted by a reader of The Portland Beacon and her words were copied exactly as submitted. The submitter also provided the editor with a copy of her utility bill and the amounts listed were confirmed for accuracy.