Some utility-related costs will increase for residential and commercial customers in Allen beginning Oct. 1, including water and sewer.

Allen City Council adopted rates and fees for water, sewer, drainage, solid waste and recycling services for fiscal year 2026-27 at a Sept. 22 meeting. 

1. Solid waste and recycling fees: In May, Allen City Council approved a commercial rate change for solid waste services, so only residential customers will be impacted by the change approved Sept. 22.

The city's expenses for residential waste services have increased by $310,224 for fiscal year 2026-27 due to rising costs from Community Waste Disposal and the North Texas Municipal Water District, as well as vehicle replacement and an increase to pay and benefits, per a presentation at the meeting. 

Residents will see a $0.80 increase to their monthly solid waste bills beginning Oct. 1.

2. Water and wastewater: Water and sewer is the largest of the city's three enterprise funds and the largest element in community services with over 90 employees, Community Services Director Steve Massey said. The department is requesting a hydro-excavator machine and one additional staff member.

Water and wastewater rates are increasing for both commercial and residential customers by 6.9%, according to city documents.

Vital Dental is opening an Allen location, a company representative said.

The specifics: The practice offers cleanings, pediatric dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, tooth extraction and orthodontics, its website states.

• 1421 Ridgeview Drive, Ste. 104, Allen

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must stop issuing new permits for data centers, Gov. Greg Abbott said Sept. 21.

The overview: His order expands an existing pause on data center development in the state amid consistent public criticism of the booming industry. Abbott, who is running for a fourth term as governor, has recently moved to slow the growth of data centers after calling Texas “the epicenter of AI development" last year.

The context: Hundreds of proposed data centers are currently being audited by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state power grid.

Some developers may be able to get around the ERCOT pause by building in-house power infrastructure that is not connected to the grid, experts have said.

However, any construction project impacting at least 1 acre of land requires permits from TCEQ.

What they're saying: "As Texas faces increasing pressure on our water supplies and electric grid, we need to ensure that data centers operate efficiently and sustainably," said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.