NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGE IN WATER RATES
The board of the Claywood Park Public Service District (ãDistrictã) has on December 15, 2015 approved an increase in rates for water service to: (1) meet the new working capital reserve requirement of state law; (2) enable the District to close on $700,000 of grant and $4,334,000 of 1{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c} interest financing for the Districtás Water System Improvement Project (ãProjectã) which will replace a 1973 leak-prone transmission main and the failing Dutch Ridge storage tanks which provide fire flow to WVU-Parkersburg, install a permanent natural gas powered backup electricity generator for the water treatment plant and water intake, upgrade electrical service to two booster stations; repaint three water storage tanks to extend their useful lives, install a new water storage tank at the water treatment plant to boost water supply to both the District and its resale customer, the Mineral Wells Public Service District, construct new distribution mains to serve 14 new customers in the Mount Carmel area, install control valves in the Walker area to enhance water quality, add a booster station to decrease tank fill time and improve fire supply to the Deerwalk tank, implement other improvements to the Districtás water distribution system; and (3) enable the District to purchase radio-read meters and improvements to its SCADA system by June 1, 2016, as required by an order of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
The approved increased rates have been forwarded to the Wood County Commission for its consideration pursuant to W.Va. Code ŒŒ 16-13A-9(a)(2)(E) and 24-2-11. The Wood County Commission has until January 29, 2016 to approve or reject the increased rates. If the Wood County Commission takes no action by January 29, 2016, the District Board approved rates will become effective for all service rendered after March 15, 2016 by operation of law. The board of the District asserts that it is in financial distress due to being in noncompliance with the working capital reserve requirement and lacking funds needed to purchase the water meters and SCADA equipment which the District is required to purchase by June 1, 2016 per an order of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. The District has asked the Wood County Commission to make the increased rates effective immediately following approval by the Wood County Commission. The District provides water service to over 3,700 customers in Wood and Wirt counties.
The District board approved rates are projected to generate only $2,963 annually in unrestricted cash on gross revenue of $3,170,590, for a system with a capital cost of over $28 million.
The District Board approved the following rates:
SCHEDULE NO. 1
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the entire territory served, except Deerwalk Extension area, Camp Barbe/Rt 14, Walker-Kites Run area and Mountwood Park.
AVAILABILITY
Available for general domestic, commercial, and industrial water service.
RATES
First 3,000 gallons used per month $9.62 per 1,000 gallons
Next 7,000 gallons used per month $7.07 per 1,000 gallons
Next 10,000 gallons used per month $5.48 per 1,000 gallons
Next 30,000 gallons used per month $4.82 per 1,000 gallons
All Over 50,000 gallons used per month $3,87 per 1,000 gallons
MINIMUM CHARGE
Monthly
5/8 inch meter inch $ 28.86
3/4 inch meter inch $ 43.29
1 inch meter inch $ 72.15
1 1/4 inch meter inch $ 105.34
1 1/2 inch meter inch $ 144.30
2 inch meter inch $ 230.88
3 inch meter inch $ 461.76
4 inch meter inch $ 721.50
6 inch meter inch $1,443.00
8 inch meter inch $2,308.80
SCHEDULE NO. 2
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the Deerwalk Extension area, Camp Barbe/Rt, 14 Extension area and Mountwood Park.
AVAILABILITY
Available for general domestic, commercial, and industrial service.
RATES
First 3,000 gallons used per month $16.65 per 1,000 gallons
Next 7,000 gallons used per month $12.24 per 1,000 gallons
Next 10,000 gallons used per month $9.59 per 1,000 gallons
Next 30,000 gallons used per month $8.52 per 1,000 gallons
All Over 50,000 gallons used per month $6.68 per 1,000 gallons
MINIMUM CHARGE
Monthly
5/8 inch meter $ 49.95
3/4 inch meter $ 74.93
1 inch meter $ 124.88
1 1/4 inch meter $ 182.32
1 1/2 inch meter $ 249.75
2 inch meter $ 399.60
3 inch meter $ 799.20
4 inch meter $1,248.75
6 inch meter $2,497.50
8 inch meter $3,996.00
SCHEDULE NO. 3
APPLICABILITY
Applicable in Walker-Kites Run area and the residents of the Little Kanawha Estates,
AVAILABILITY
Available for the general domestic, commercial, and industrial water service.
RATES
First 3,000 gallons used per month $11.58 per 1,000 gallons
Next 7,000 gallons used per month $ 8.51 per 1,000 gallons
Next 10,000 gallons used per month $ 6.65 per 1,000 gallons
Next 30,000 gallons used per month $ 5.90 per 1,000 gallons
All Over 50,000 gallons used per month $ 4.62 per 1,000 gallons
MINIMUM CHARGE
Monthly
5/8 inch meter $ 34.74
3/4 inch meter $ 52.11
1 inch meter $ 86.85
1 1/4 inch meter $ 126.80
1 1/2 inch meter $ 173.70
2 inch meter $ 277,92
3 inch meter $ 555.84
4 inch meter $ 868.50
6 inch meter $1,737.00
8 inch meter $2,779.20
SCHEDULE NO. 4
APPLICABILITY
Applicable for Town of Elizabeth and Mineral Wells Public Service District.
AVAILABILITY
Available for sale for resale.
RATE
$3.42 per 1,000 gallons.
SCHEDULE NO. 5
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the entire territory served.
TRAILER COURTS
House trailers, either mobile or immobile, located on sites other than a park or court shall be billed in the same manner as any other family or business unit.
TAP FEE
The following charges are to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant.
A tap fee of $100.00 will be charged to any customer applying for service before construction is completed adjacent to the customerás premises in connection with a capital project. This pre-construction tap fee will be invalid after the completion of construction adjacent to an applicantás premises that is associated with the capital project.
A tap fee of $400.00 will be charged to all customers who apply for service outside of a capital project for each new tap to the system.
CHARGE FOR RECONNECTION
Whenever the supply of water is turned off for violation of the rules, and regulations, nonpayment of bills, or fraudulent use of water, the District shall make a charge of $30.00 for reestablishing service.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above tariff is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}) 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.
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE
In the event the District collects payment in full of a delinquent water bill at the customerás premises in lieu of a discontinuance of service for nonpayment, an administrative fee of $25.00 shall also be collected in addition to the delinquent water bill,
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.
LEAK ADJUSTMENT RATE
$ 0.86 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when a bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customerás side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all consumption above the customerás historical average usage.
SECURITY DEPOSIT
A deposit of $50.00 or two-twelfths (2/12ths) of the average annual usage of the applicantás specific customer class, whichever is greater.
METER TESTING
Any customer may request in writing a meter test for the accuracy of their meter. The customer shall first deposit $40.00 for the removal and testing of their meter, either by the utility or an independent certified meter testing facility. If, when tested, the meter is found to be more than two percent fast, the amount advanced shall be promptly refunded to the customer. If the meter is not found to be more than two percent (2{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}) in error, the utility shall retain the amount advanced by the customer for the test. The customer or their representative may be present during the testing.
The Wood County Commission will consider adopting or rejecting the District board approved rates and whether to waive the 45 day waiting period for the rate change to go into effect, at the January 25, 2016 meeting of the Wood County Commission, which will be held at 10 am. at the offices of the Wood County Commission, #1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV 26101. The meetings of the Wood County Commission are open to the public.
WOOD COUNTY COMMISSION
Jan 18