Water is about to get more expensive for tens of thousands of Sunshine Water Services customers across Central Florida, after state regulators signed off on a rate hike that kicks in June 1, 2026.
The Florida Public Service Commission on April 13, 2026 approved a settlement that raises water and wastewater rates for customers from Pinellas County to Polk County. The deal covers multiple classes of service and tweaks the utility’s original proposal, but it still means higher monthly bills for households and businesses.
The commission voted to accept a compromise that trims the utility’s first request and sets new tariffs for different customer groups, according to WFTV. Regulators shifted some project expenses into later proceedings in an effort to blunt the immediate sticker shock on customer bills, the station reported.
What Customers Will Pay
Under the settlement, customers face an across-the-board increase of roughly 12.58 percent, and Sunshine Water Services’ requested annual revenue boost was cut back to about $4.3 million, according to the Florida Public Service Commission…