NOTICE OF INTENT TO CHANGE SEWER RATES AND APPROVE PROJECT
Notice is hereby given that the board of the Claywood Park Public Service District (“District”) will consider approving the Community Acres Lift Station Improvement Project (“Community Acres Project”) and adopting an increase to rates, fees, and charges for furnishing sewer service to 1,922 customers in Wood and Wirt Counties.
The Board of the District previously approved the District’s Spring Valley sewer project (“Spring Valley Project”), under which most of the customers of the Spring Valley Home Owner’s Association will become customers of the District, subject to the District’s sewer rates, including the proposed increased rates presented below. The Spring Valley Project does not require an increase to the District’s rates.
The District’s present rates generate $1,398,311 annually. The District is not presently meeting its statutory cash working capital reserve fund obligations. In order to close on funding for both the Community Acres Project and the Spring Valley Project, the District needs to be in compliance with its current statutory and bond obligations. The proposed increase, if adopted, is projected to generate $163,450 in increased annual revenue. The District’s previous sewer rate increase occurred in 2017.
The increased rates are projected to generate an unrestricted cash surplus of only $4,986 on $1,561,761 of annual income.
The District presently charges the following rates:
SCHEDULE NO. I
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the entire territory served, except Spring Valley Home Owners Association.
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for general residential, commercial, industrial, public authority and sale for resale sewer service.
RATES (Customers with metered water supply)
Service Charge $ 18.22 per month
Commodity Charge $ 11.81 per 1,000 gallons of water usage
Sludge Fee $322.07 Per month
FLAT RATE CHARGE (Customers with non-metered water supply)
Equivalent of 4,500 gallons of water usage – $71.76 per month.
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than $18.22 per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above tariff is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
TAP FEE
The following charge is to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant.
A tap fee of $350.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service outside of a certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$1.91 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when a bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the water utility up to a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by the bank due to insufficient funds.
SURFACE OR GROUND WATER SURCHARGE
An additional amount shall be charged where surface or ground water is introduced into the sanitary system where evidence of a violation exists.
Surcharge formula to be applied in cases where surface drainage is connected to the utility’s sewer system.
APPLICABILITY
Whenever the utility has discovered that customer’s roof drain, downspout, storm sewer or similar facilities conducting surface water have been connected to the utility’s sewer system and such customer has failed to make appropriate action within thirty (30) days of receipt of a demand by the utility to eliminate such connection, a surcharge will be imposed upon the customer calculated on the basis of the following formula:
S = A x R x 0.0006233 x C
S = The surcharge in dollars
A = The area under roof and/or the area of any other water collecting surface connected to the sanitary sewer, in square feet.
R = The measured monthly rainfall, in inches.0.000623 = A conversion factor to change inches of rain x square feet of surface thousands of gallons of water.
C = The District’s approved rate per thousand gallons of metered water usage.
The utility shall not impose the surcharge unless and until the customer has been notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by hand delivery, that it has been established by smoke testing, dye testing, or on-site inspection that rain or surface water is being introduced into the sanitary sewer system at the customer’s location, and that the customer has not acted within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice to divert water from the sanitary sewer system. The surcharge shall be calculated and imposed for each month the condition continues to exist. Failure to pay the surcharge and/or correct the situation shall give rise to the possible termination of water service in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
SCHEDULE NO. II
APPLICABILITY
Applicable to the Spring Valley Home Owners Association.
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for commercial service.
RATES (Customers with metered water supply)
Service Charge $ 2,363.13 per month
Commodity Charge $4.51 per 1,000 gallons based on flow meter readings
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than $2,363.13 per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above tariff is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
TAP FEE
The following charge is to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant.
A tap fee of $350.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service outside of a certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$1.91 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when a bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the water utility up to a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by the bank due to insufficient funds.
SURFACE OR GROUND WATER SURCHARGE
An additional amount shall be charged where surface or ground water is introduced into the sanitary system where evidence of a violation exists.
Surcharge formula to be applied in cases where surface drainage is connected to the utility’s sewer system.
APPLICABILITY
Whenever the utility has discovered that customer’s roof drain, downspout, storm sewer or similar facilities conducting surface water have been connected to the utility’s sewer system and such customer has failed to make appropriate action within thirty (30) days of receipt of a demand by the utility to eliminate such connection, a surcharge will be imposed upon the customer calculated on the basis of the following formula:
S = A x R x 0.0006233 x C
S = The surcharge in dollars
A = the area under roof and/or the area of any other water collecting surface connected to the sanitary sewer, in square feet.
R = The measured monthly rainfall, in inches. 0.000623 = A conversion factor to change inches of rain x square feet of surface thousands of gallons of water.
C = The District’s approved rate per thousand gallons of metered water usage.
The utility shall not impose the surcharge unless and until the customer has been notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by hand delivery, that it has been established by smoke testing, dye testing, or on-site inspection that rain or surface water is being introduced into the sanitary sewer system at the customer’s location, and that the customer has not acted within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice to divert water from the sanitary sewer system. The surcharge shall be calculated and imposed for each month the condition continues to exist. Failure to pay the surcharge and/or correct the situation shall give rise to the possible termination of water service in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
In the following schedule, notations have the following meanings:
(I) Indicates Increase
(C) Indicates Change
The District will consider adopting the following rates:
SCHEDULE NO. 1
APPLICABILITY
(C) Applicable within the entire territory served, except Spring Valley Home Owners Association until completion of the Spring Valley project, at which time former Spring Valley Home Owners Association customers will become District customers subject to the rates and charges below.
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for general residential, commercial, industrial, public authority and sale for resale sewer service.
(I) RATES (Customers with metered water supply)
Service Charge $ 20.22 per month
Commodity Charge $ 13.11 per 1,000 gallons of water usage
Sludge Fee $349.97 per month
(I) FLAT RATE CHARGE (Customers with non-metered water supply)
Equivalent of 4,500 gallons of water usage – $79.22 per month.
(I) MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than $20.22 per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above tariff is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
(C, I) TAP FEE
A tap fee of $500.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service outside of a publicly funded project for each new tap to the system.
A tap fee of $100.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service prior to the construction of a publicly funded project for each new tap to the system made during the construction of a publicly funded project.
(I) LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$4.00 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when a bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the water utility up to a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by the bank due to insufficient funds.
SURFACE OR GROUND WATER SURCHARGE
An additional amount shall be charged where surface or ground water is introduced into the sanitary system where evidence of a violation exists.
Surcharge formula to be applied in cases where surface drainage is connected to the utility’s sewer system.
APPLICABILITY
Whenever the utility has discovered that customer’s roof drain, downspout, storm sewer or similar facilities conducting surface water have been connected to the utility’s sewer system and such customer has failed to make appropriate action within thirty (30) days of receipt of a demand by the utility to eliminate such connection, a surcharge will be imposed upon the customer calculated on the basis of the following formula:
S = A x R x 0.0006233 x C
S = The surcharge in dollars
A = the area under roof and/or the area of any other water collecting surface connected to the sanitary sewer, in square feet.
R = The measured monthly rainfall, in inches. 0.000623 = A conversion factor to change inches of rain x square feet of surface thousands of gallons of water.
C = The District’s approved rate per thousand gallons of metered water usage.
The utility shall not impose the surcharge unless and until the customer has been notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by hand delivery, that it has been established by smoke testing, dye testing, or on-site inspection that rain or surface water is being introduced into the sanitary sewer system at the customer’s location, and that the customer has not acted within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice to divert water from the sanitary sewer system. The surcharge shall be calculated and imposed for each month the condition continues to exist. Failure to pay the surcharge and/or correct the situation shall give rise to the possible termination of water service in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
SCHEDULE NO. II
APPLICABILITY
Applicable to the Spring Valley Home Owners Association until completion of the Spring Valley sewer project.
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for commercial service.
RATES (Customers with metered water supply)
Service Charge $2,363.13 per month
Commodity Charge $ 5.13 per 1,000 gallons based on flow meter readings
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than $2,363.13 per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above tariff is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
(C, I) TAP FEE
A tap fee of $500.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service outside of a publicly funded project for each new tap to the system.
A tap fee of $100.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service prior to the construction of a publicly funded project for each new tap to the system made during the construction of a publicly funded project.
(I) LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$4.00 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when a bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the water utility up to a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by the bank due to insufficient funds.
SURFACE OR GROUND WATER SURCHARGE
An additional amount shall be charged where surface or ground water is introduced into the sanitary system where evidence of a violation exists.
Surcharge formula to be applied in cases where surface drainage is connected to the utility’s sewer system.
APPLICABILITY
Whenever the utility has discovered that customer’s roof drain, downspout, storm sewer or similar facilities conducting surface water have been connected to the utility’s sewer system and such customer has failed to make appropriate action within thirty (30) days of receipt of a demand by the utility to eliminate such connection, a surcharge will be imposed upon the customer calculated on the basis of the following formula:
S = A x R x 0.0006233 x C
S = The surcharge in dollars
A = the area under roof and/or the area of any other water collecting surface connected to the sanitary sewer, in square feet.
R = The measured monthly rainfall, in inches. 0.000623 = A conversion factor to change inches of rain x square feet of surface thousands of gallons of water.
C = The District’s approved rate per thousand gallons of metered water usage.
The utility shall not impose the surcharge unless and until the customer has been notified by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by hand delivery, that it has been established by smoke testing, dye testing, or on-site inspection that rain or surface water is being introduced into the sanitary sewer system at the customer’s location, and that the customer has not acted within thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice to divert water from the sanitary sewer system. The surcharge shall be calculated and imposed for each month the condition continues to exist. Failure to pay the surcharge and/or correct the situation shall give rise to the possible termination of water service in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
The District will consider adopting a resolution containing the increased rates at the following meeting to be held at the District’s offices, 594 Davisville Road, Davisville, WV:
Public Hearing followed immediately by regular
board meeting for final adoption
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 2:00 pm
The financial analysis supporting the increased rates is available for inspection at the District’s offices at 594 Davisville Road, Davisville, WV.
Interested parties may appear at the April 11, 2023 public hearing and be heard with respect to the proposed rates, fees, and charges.
CLAYWOOD PARK PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT
Mar 31