Currently sewer use charges are based on the actual water usage billed during the months of January, February and March, referred to as the base, with the remaining nine months of the year (April through December) being billed at the average monthly water usage for the most recent annual base period.
The proposed Ordinance transitions sewer use charges from average billing to actual billing for residential customers. Actual billing allows customers to pay for sewer use charges based on actual water used and provides a more fair system for customers with fluctuating water usage (i.e. vacant properties, snow birds, etc.). Additionally, average billing is the number one customer complaint.
Under the new Ordinance all residential customers will be billed based on the following table, unless the customer elects a billing type different than the default. The only exception is new residential dwellings with construction permitted after January 1, 2020 will default to actual billing and will not be allowed average billing.
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Residential dwelling without backflow prevention device
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Default billing beginning April 1, 2020 will be actual billing, unless customer elects average billing
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Residential dwelling with backflow prevention device
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Default billing beginning April 1, 2020 will be average billing, unless customer elects actual billing
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New residential dwelling with construction permitted after January 1, 2020
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Default billing will be actual billing and average billing will not be allowed
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Residential dwelling with secondary water meter
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Default billing will be actual billing and average billing will not be allowed
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Customer moves from residence without backflow prevention device to residence with backflow prevention device
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Default billing will be average billing, unless customer elects actual billing
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Customer moves from residence with backflow prevention device to residence without backflow prevention device
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Default billing will be actual billing, unless the customer elects average billing
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