DECISION – Braga maintains tariffs for water, sanitation and waste services

AGERE, the company responsible for water, sanitation and waste services in the municipality of Braga, will maintain the tariffs and prices for these services for all users, domestic and non-domestic, throughout 2024. The proposal will be analyzed in the municipal executive meeting next Monday, April 29th.

“This measure represents a continuous effort to consolidate the evolution of the tariff, even in the face of the general increase in prices recorded in previous years. In the last two years, the Consumer Price Index (IPC) reflected an average annual variation of 7.8% in 2022 and 4.3% in 2023, however, people from Braga enjoyed a real gain in bills for the ninth consecutive year ”, says the municipality.

AGERE “reiterates its commitment to reducing the difference between the real costs of services and the amounts charged to consumers, without compromising investments in infrastructure and its maintenance. Furthermore, it maintains the objective of promoting the rational use of water for the benefit of the environment”.

The document states that the tariff freeze is complemented by other tariff reduction measures adopted in previous years, including the extension of the family water tariff, changes to the social tariff, reductions for IPSS, Parish Councils and sports associations.

These measures included the extension of the family water tariff to all households with four or more people, a measure that represented a 40 percent reduction in the final value of the water installment. The social tariff has also been undergoing changes, with the expansion of the base of Braga residents who can access this tariff.

IPSS have a 12.5% ​​reduction and Parish Councils also benefit from a 20% reduction. Sports associations, with the reformulation of levels, also saw a reduction in water service tariffs of around 7%, on average.

With regard to state fees, AGERE “reflects mandatory updates”, such as the increase in the Waste Management Fee (TGR) from €25/ton to €30/ton (in the previous year it had increased from €22/ton to €25/ton) and updates to the Water Resources Tax (TRH) relating to water and sanitation. These updates will have an impact on residents’ monthly bills and will be visible in the “Payments to the State” area.

“AGERE reaffirms its commitment to the quality and accessibility of the services provided, always seeking a balance between the needs of the community and the sustainability of resources”, concludes the text.