The Board of Public Utilities will consider a proposed sewage rate increase at the August 15th Board meeting. Do you have any feedback for the Board?
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will bring proposed Los Alamos County Code Ordinance 02-288 to increase sewage service rates to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Open to the public, the hearing on the proposed rate increase is scheduled for:
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 5:30 PM
Municipal Building, Council Chambers
1000 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM
If approved, the draft ordinance will be introduced to the Los Alamos County Council on August 28, 2018 to be scheduled for a public hearing on September 25, 2018. Council will consider adoption of the ordinance at that time.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Please provide comments on this open forum page before 11:59 PM on Sunday, August 12th. All comments from this forum will be shared with the BPU prior to the hearing. Members of the public are also welcome to provide public comment in person to the BPU at the August 15th hearing.
BACKGROUND
DPU staff is planning to replace the White Rock wastewater treatment facility in the near future. Therefore, DPU is proposing an 8-percent increase to establish a rate sufficient to sustain future debt service for a new facility.
MONTHLY SERVICE FEE:
All customer classes are charged a monthly customer service fee for each account to cover administrative costs such as billing and collections.
| Customer Class | Existing Monthly Service Fee per Account | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Individually Metered) | $10.27 | $11.09 |
| Residential (Multifamily/Non-Individually Metered) | $10.27 | $11.09 |
| Commercial (includes commercial, schools & county) | $10.27 | $11.09 |
COLLECTION AND TREATMENT RATES:
Residential customers are charged a flat fixed charge per dwelling unit for sewage that is collected and treated.
| Customer Class | Existing | Proposed Fixed Charge per Dwelling |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Individually Metered) | $37.18 | $40.15 |
| Residential (Multifamily/Non-Individually Metered) | $30.97 | $33.45 |
Commercial customers (which includes commercial, schools and county customers) are charged a variable rate based on the winter average of potable water consumed, or other measuring period as determined appropriate by the DPU based on seasonal or other non-traditional water use patterns, with a minimum of 2,000 gallons.
| Customer Class | Existing Variable Charge per 1,000 gallons | Proposed Variable Charge per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial (includes commercial, schools & county) | $17.50 | $18.90 |
ADJUSTMENT FACTOR:
Further, DPU applies an adjustment factor to commercial customers to account for the difference between the volume billed and the volume expected to require treatment. This difference arises because of metering errors, timing differences, the use of a winter water consumption average for billing, and storm water infiltration. The proposed ordinance changes the adjustment factor from "16-percent" to convert the volume to the amount of sewage expected to be treated, to "8-percent."
EXAMPLE BILL
| Residential (Individually Metered) | Existing Rate | Proposed Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Svc Fee | $10.27 | $11.09 |
| Collection & Treatment Rate | $37.18 | $40.15 |
| TOTAL MONTHLY BILL | $47.45 | $51.24 |
Read the proposed proposed ordinance: 02-288 Sewage Service Rate
(Existing Rates) Read Chapter 40, Article III of the Code of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos as it pertains to Sewage Service Rates
Section 40-201,
Section 40-202
Section 40-203
Section 40-204
Section 40-205
Outcome: BPU approved proposed ordinance; 9/25/18 Council to consider adoption.
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