Uncategorized

Notice of Filing

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 18-1593-PSD-CN
COLFAX PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT
Application for a certificate of convenience and necessity for sewer system improvements and upgrades project in Union District, Marion County.
NOTICE OF FILING
On December 27, 2018, Colfax Public Service District (District) filed an application for a certificate of convenience and necessity for sewer system improvements and upgrades in Union District, Marion County.
In the project, the District is: 1) reducing a high volume of infiltration into the collection system via main trunk line repairs and sealing of manholes; 2) eliminating an aging and poorly functioning wastewater treatment plant; 3) pumping of all sewage from Colfax PSD across the hillside above Pinchgut Hollow Road to Kingmill Valley PSD in Pleasant Valley to be passed on to the City of Fairmont’s 9MGD treatment plant; 4) providing necessary lift station backup for Kingmill Valley PSD’s airport lift station.
The application is on file with and available for public inspection at the Public Service Commission, 201 Brooks Street, in Charleston, West Virginia.
The District estimates that the project will cost approximately $2,348,685. It is proposed that the project will be financed thru a Small Cities Block Grant in the amount of $1,500,000 and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection debt forgiveness in the amount of $848,685.
The District anticipates charging the following increased rates for its customers upon substantial completion of the project:
STEP I RATES
(Effective For 48 Months or Until SB 234 Reserve is Fully Funded, Whichever Occurs Later)
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the entire territory served.
AVAILABILITY
Available for general domestic, commercial and industrial sewer service.
USAGE CHARGE
$20.10 per 1,000 gallons of water usage.
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than $40.20 per month.
FLAT RATE (Customers with non-metered water supply)
Equivalent of 4,500 gallons of water usage $90.45 per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above schedule 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.
DISCONNECT/RECONNECT CHARGE
Whenever water service has been disconnected for non-payment of sewer bills in conjunction with a water service termination agreement with the City of Fairmont, a disconnection fee of $25.00 shall be charged.
Whenever water service which has been previously disconnected or otherwise withheld for non-payment of a sewer bill in conjunction with a water service termination agreement with the City of Fairmont is reconnected, a reconnection fee of $25.00 shall be charged.
TAP FEE
The following charge is to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant:
A tap fee of $300.00 will be charged to customers who apply for service outside of a certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the sewer utility up to a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by their bank due to insufficient funds.
LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$12.02 per 1,000 gallons of water is to be used when the bill reflects unusual water consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on the customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
SECURITY DEPOSIT
Not to exceed two-twelfths (2/12) of the average annual usage of the applicant’s specific customer class, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. This fee may be changed by applicable statutory provisions.
STEP II RATES
(Effective After 48 Months or The SB 234 Reserve is Fully Funded, Whichever Occurs Later)
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the entire territory served.
AVAILABILITY
Available for general domestic, commercial and industrial sewer service.
USAGE CHARGE
$19.32 per 1,000 gallons of water usage.
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than $38.64 per month.
FLAT RATE (Customers with non-metered water supply)
Equivalent of 4,500 gallons of water usage $86.94 per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above schedule 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.
DISCONNECT/RECONNECT CHARGE
Whenever water service has been disconnected for non-payment of sewer bills in conjunction with a water service termination agreement with the City of Fairmont, a disconnection fee of $25.00 shall be charged.
Whenever water service which has been previously disconnected or otherwise withheld for non-payment of a sewer bill in conjunction with a water service termination agreement with the City of Fairmont is reconnected, a reconnection fee of $25.00 shall be charged.
TAP FEE
The following charge is to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant:
A tap fee of $300.00 will be charged to customers who apply for service outside of a certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the sewer utility up to a maximum of $25.00 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by their bank due to insufficient funds.
LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$12.02 per 1,000 gallons of water is to be used when the bill reflects unusual water consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on the customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
SECURITY DEPOSIT
Not to exceed two-twelfths (2/12) of the average annual usage of the applicant’s specific customer class, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. This fee may be changed by applicable statutory provisions.
These rates represent the following project-related increases to become effective upon substantial completion of the project unless otherwise ordered:
Step I Rate Increase – Effective Upon Substantial Completion of the Project For 48 Months or Until The SB 234 Reserve is Fully Funded, Whichever Occurs Later
Avg Current Step I Dollar {4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}
Gallons Bill Bill Increase Increase

Residential 3600 $34.96 $72.36 $37.40 107{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}

Step II Rates – Effective After 48 Months or The SB 234 Reserve is Fully Funded,
Whichever Occurs Later – Step II Rates

Avg Current Step II Dollar {4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}
Gallons Bill Bill Increase Increase

Residential 3600 $34.96 $69.55 $34.60 99{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}
The District does not have any resale customers.
The proposed Step I rate increase related to the project will produce approximately $54,258 annually in additional revenue, an increase of 107{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}. The proposed Step II rates will produce an increase in revenue of approximately $50,185 over current rates annually, an increase of 99{4ceb532c6f579389df471c6c1e832caf2346b74dc60fcbf6aabd4d29df3baf9c}. The total increases granted will not exceed this estimate unless further notice is provided.
The increases shown are based on averages of all customers in the indicated class. Individual customers may receive increases that are greater or less than average.
Anyone desiring to protest or intervene should file a written protest or notice of intervention within thirty (30) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by the Commission order. Failure to timely protest or intervene can affect your right to protest aspects of this certificate case, including any associated rate increases, or to participate in future proceedings. All protests or requests to intervene should briefly state the reason for the protest or intervention. Requests to intervene must comply with the Commission’s rules on intervention set forth in the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. All protests and interventions should be addressed to Ingrid Ferrell, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.
In the absence of substantial protests within said thirty (30) day period, the Commission may waive formal hearing and render its decision on the application based on the evidence submitted with said application and its review thereof.
Times: January 12, 2019