Chapter 13.04
WATER SERVICE – CHARGES1
Sections:
13.04.010 Water rates.
13.04.013 Low-income utility rate reduction and connection fee waiver/delay.
13.04.014 Average payment plan.
13.04.015 Repealed.
13.04.020 Nonmetered residential uses.
13.04.030 Outside water service.
13.04.040 Repealed.
13.04.050 Billings – Delinquencies – Liens.
13.04.060 Discontinuance of water service.
13.04.070 Special charges.
13.04.080 Water system general facility charge.
13.04.010 Water rates.
A. Effective January 1, 2010, the monthly water service rates shall be set at the following amounts:
|
Customer Class/Meter |
Customer Base Charge (per meter/ month) |
Commodity Charge (per ccf) |
|
Residential |
$12.47 |
$1.63 |
|
Multiresidential |
|
|
|
5/8" & 3/4" |
21.91 |
1.52 |
|
1" |
30.15 |
1.52 |
|
1-1/2" |
50.59 |
1.52 |
|
2" |
75.22 |
1.52 |
|
3" |
140.82 |
1.52 |
|
4" |
214.69 |
1.52 |
|
Commercial/Schools |
||
|
5/8" & 3/4" |
18.37 |
1.58 |
|
1" |
24.26 |
1.58 |
|
1-1/2" |
38.83 |
1.58 |
|
2" |
56.38 |
1.58 |
|
3" |
103.19 |
1.58 |
|
4" |
155.88 |
1.58 |
B. Effective January 1, 2011, the monthly water service rates shall be set at the following amounts:
|
Customer Class/Meter |
Customer Base Charge (per meter/ month) |
Commodity Charge (per ccf) |
|
Residential |
$13.72 |
$1.79 |
|
Multiresidential |
||
|
5/8" & 3/4" |
24.10 |
1.67 |
|
1" |
33.17 |
1.67 |
|
1-1/2" |
55.65 |
1.67 |
|
2" |
82.74 |
1.67 |
|
3" |
154.90 |
1.67 |
|
4" |
236.16 |
1.67 |
|
Commercial/Schools |
||
|
5/8" & 3/4" |
20.21 |
1.74 |
|
1" |
26.69 |
1.74 |
|
1-1/2" |
42.71 |
1.74 |
|
2" |
62.02 |
1.74 |
|
3" |
113.51 |
1.74 |
|
4" |
171.47 |
1.74 |
C. Effective January 1, 2012, the monthly water service rates shall be set at the following amounts:
|
Customer Class/Meter |
Customer Base Charge (per meter/ month) |
Commodity Charge (per ccf) |
|
Residential |
$15.09 |
$1.97 |
|
Multiresidential |
||
|
5/8" & 3/4" |
26.51 |
1.84 |
|
1" |
36.49 |
1.84 |
|
1-1/2" |
61.22 |
1.84 |
|
2" |
91.01 |
1.84 |
|
3" |
170.39 |
1.84 |
|
4" |
259.78 |
1.84 |
|
Commercial/Schools |
||
|
5/8" & 3/4" |
22.23 |
1.91 |
|
1" |
29.36 |
1.91 |
|
1-1/2" |
46.98 |
1.91 |
|
2" |
68.22 |
1.91 |
|
3" |
124.86 |
1.91 |
|
4" |
188.62 |
1.91 |
(Ord. 1178 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1133 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1119 § 1, 2007; Ord 1062 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1024 § 1, 2005; Ord. 936 § 1, 2003; Ord. 899 § 3, 2002; Ord. 663 § 1, 1994; Ord. 636 § 1, 1992; Ord. 547 § 1, 1988; Ord. 498 § 2, 1986).
13.04.013 Low-income utility rate reduction and connection fee waiver/delay.
A. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
1. “Low-income senior citizen” means a person aged 62 years or older (if married, either spouse may fit this definition) who:
a. Is a Gig Harbor water or sewer customer and has an account in his/her name;
b. Is the head of the household;
c. Has a monthly gross household income from all sources that is not more than:
|
Household Size |
Monthly Income* |
Annual Income |
|
1 |
$1,384 |
$16,608 |
|
2 |
$1,866 |
$22,395 |
|
3 |
$1,348 |
$28,572 |
|
4 |
$2,828 |
$34,936 |
|
5 |
$3,309 |
$39,708 |
*Subject to change annually.
B. Rate Reduction. A low-income senior citizen may pay a rate equal to 50 percent of the applicable water and/or sewer rate established by the city in GHMC 13.04.010 and 13.32.010, or any amendments thereto.
C. Waiver/Delay of Connection Fees. A low-income senior citizen may request a waiver of a connection fee to his or her property in the amount of 50 percent of the applicable water and/or sewer connection fee established in GHMC 13.04.080 and 13.32.060, or any amendments thereto. A low-income senior citizen may request a delay in the city’s collection of the connection fee, as reduced by this subsection, for a period of five years, as long as the eligibility requirements of this section are satisfied for each year.
D. Eligibility Requirements. In order to obtain a rate reduction and/or waiver/delay of connection fees, a low-income senior citizen shall:
1. File an affidavit with the finance department on an annual basis, and submit documentation requested by the finance department verifying that he/she is eligible to receive the benefits of this section; and
2. In the affidavit, provide the city with an unqualified promise to inform the city of any changes in the his/her financial condition that would disqualify him/her from the benefits of this section. (Ord. 941 § 1, 2003).
13.04.014 Average payment plan.
The average payment plan is available to residential customers only. It allows residential customers to level out their utility bills throughout the year.
A. Customers Eligible. A residential customer is eligible for the residential payment plan if:
1. There has been a 12-month consecutive history of the customer making payments of the utility bill to the city for the subject property; and
2. The request for billing to begin on the average payment plan has been made when the balance in the water and sewer account is zero.
B. Method of Calculation. The city shall recalculate the payment every four months, and the residential customer will be billed the average amount for that four-month period. This means that the monthly payment (after the preceding four-month period) may still go up and down, depending on actual water/sewer use.
C. Advance Calculation of Payment. The residential customer may request that the city calculate the average payment plan monthly amount before the customer signs up for the service. (Ord. 941 § 2, 2003).
13.04.015 Fire protection service rates.
Repealed by Ord. 899. (Ord. 583 § 1, 1990).
13.04.020 Nonmetered residential uses.
A. Effective January 1, 2010, the water service charge for each unmetered residential or multiple residential building shall be $37.00.
B. Effective January 1, 2011, the water service charge for each unmetered residential or multiple residential building shall be $40.70.
C. Effective January 1, 2012, the water service charge for each unmetered residential or multiple residential building shall be $44.77. (Ord. 1178 § 2, 2009; Ord. 1133 § 2, 2008; Ord. 1119 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1062 § 2, 2006; Ord. 1024 § 2, 2005; Ord. 936 § 2, 2003; Ord. 899 § 5, 2002; Ord. 663 § 2, 1994; Ord. 636 § 2, 1992; Ord. 547 § 2, 1988; Ord. 498 § 3, 1986).
13.04.030 Outside water service.
Water service extended outside the city limits shall be charged at 1.5 times the city rate established in GHMC 13.04.010, 13.04.015 and 13.04.020. (Ord. 583 § 3, 1990; Ord. 498 § 4, 1986).
13.04.040 Utility taxes by state and city excluded.
Repealed by Ord. 936. (Ord. 498 § 5, 1986).
13.04.050 Billings – Delinquencies – Liens.
A. Billing shall commence on the first available date, which date shall be the same as the sewer billing date. Billings shall be thereafter on a bimonthly basis and sent to the record owner of the premises. New users shall pay a pro rata charge on the first available billing date.
B. Water service charges shall be deemed delinquent if not paid within 30 days following the billing date. Interest at the rate of eight percent per annum shall be charged on all delinquent service charges. In the event any billing for water service or other service charge has not been paid within 60 days of billing, the city utility department shall mail a first delinquency/shut-off notice to the property owner and occupant if the record owner does not reside at the premises. The delinquency/shut-off notice shall provide the following: (1) payment for service is overdue and the total amount due and a statutory lien will be imposed; (2) service will be suspended unless payment in full is made to the city within 10 days; (3) address and telephone number of the utility department, stating that the owner or occupant may contact the department if a dispute exists as to liability for the billing or the validity of lien; and (4) the city will charge a turn-on fee before service is resumed. The customer shall be charged $10.00 for this first notice. If the customer has not settled the account within the time provided in the notice, a second notice which indicates service shall be discontinued by the city the next day shall be posted by the city utility department at a reasonably visible location at the property site. The customer shall be charged $15.00 for this second notice. If the property owner has not settled the account within the time provided under the second notice, the city utility department shall shut off service.
C. The city, as provided by law, shall have a lien against the premises to which water service was furnished and may enforce such lien by shutting off service until all charges and interest thereon then due are paid. Additionally, the city shall have the option to enforce the delinquent utility charges pursuant to other methods allowable by law. If the water service is shut off, it may be turned on again by the city after full payment is made for all charges to date, plus notice charges, interest and turn-on charge. (Ord. 498 § 6, 1986).
13.04.060 Discontinuance of water service.
Should the owner of any premises desire to discontinue the use of water supplied any premises, he shall give the city notice in writing and pay in full all outstanding water charges on his account at the utility department. The water shall then be shut off. Upon proper application and payment of $25.00 turn-on charge, water service shall be turned on again. Future water charges shall not cease without the notice prescribed in this section. (Ord. 1024 § 3, 2005; Ord. 498 § 7, 1986).
13.04.070 Special charges.
The city shall impose the following special service charges:
|
Service |
Charge |
|
Meter installation: |
|
|
3/4" meter |
$486.00 |
|
1" meter |
$567.00 |
|
Over l" meter |
Time and materials, plus 10% administrative fee |
|
Street crossings: |
|
|
improved streets |
$16.20 per foot |
|
unimproved streets |
$1.62 per foot |
|
Unauthorized use |
$500.00 |
|
Water main extension |
Time and materials, plus 10% administrative fee |
|
Street repairs |
|
|
Fire hydrant installation |
|
|
Tap-in service |
(Ord. 899 § 6, 2002; Ord. 498 § 8, 1986).
13.04.080 Water system general facility charge.
A. The city shall charge the following fees to connect to the water utility system:
|
Meter Size |
Capacity Factor(s) |
General Facility Charge |
|
3/4" |
1.0 |
$ 6,180.00 |
|
1" |
1.67 |
10,320.00 |
|
1-1/2" |
3.33 |
20,580.00 |
|
2" |
5.33 |
32,940.00 |
|
Over 2" |
|
Negotiable |
B. Any remodel and/or use change shall pay the difference between the new use and/or size and the previous use and/or size. No refund shall be allowed for use and/or size reduction. (Ord. 1123 § 1, 2008; Ord. 910 § 1, 2002; Ord. 498 § 9, 1986).
Prior legislation: Ords. 196 as amended by 325, 211 as amended by 235, 344, 361 and 368.