EUGENE, Ore. – Rate increases taking effect early next year for Eugene Water and Electric Board customers will be less than initially projected, according to EWEB officials. The customer-owned utility said that projections announced earlier this year of a 15% increase in electric rates and a 9% increase in water rates for all customer classes slated to take effect in February 2025 have been reduced to 11% for electricity and 8% for water. EWEB’s board of commissioners voted during their October 1 meeting to stagger the electricity rate increase in two stages starting with 7% in February 2025 followed by a direct passthrough Bonneville Power Administration increase forecasted at 4% in October 2025, EWEB officials said.