PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
CASE NO. 24-0467-PWD-CN
FLATWOODS-CANOE RUN PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT,
Application for a certificate of convenience and necessity
for the Old Route 19 System Upgrades project,
Braxton County
NOTICE OF FILING
On May 20, 2024, Flatwoods-Canoe Run Public Service District (District) filed a duly verified application for a certificate of convenience and necessity for the Old Route 19 System Upgrades project, Braxton County.
The Project consists of replacing existing aging and problematic waterlines; replacing the existing below ground booster station with a new above ground water booster station; and replacing an existing deficient 200,000-gallon water tank.
In the event the construction bids received are less than the available Project funding, the District will evaluate and determine the water system’s needs and use any available funds appropriately. In the event the construction bids received exceed the available Project funding, the District will seek additional funding in order to complete the Project as proposed.
The application is on file with and available for public inspection at the Public Service Commission, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia.
The District estimates that the project will cost approximately $2,216,000. It is proposed that the project will be financed as follows: a West Virginia Infrastructure & Jobs Development Council (IJDC) Loan in the amount of $1,216,000 at an interest rate not to exceed 1.00%, for a term not to exceed 40 years and an IJDC Grant in the amount of $1,000,000.
The District anticipates charging the following increased rates and charges for its customers:
SCHEDULE I
APPLICABILITY
Applicable within the entire territory served.
AVAILABILITY
Available for general domestic, commercial, industrial and sales for resale water service.
RATES (Customers with metered water supply)
First 2,000 gallons used per month $19.79 per 1,000 gallons
Next 28,000 gallons used per month $14.12 per 1,000 gallons
All Over 30,000 gallons used per month $6.48 per 1,000 gallons
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than the following per month according to meter size:
5/8 inch meter $ 39.58 per month
3/4 inch meter $ 59.37 per month
1 inch meter $ 98.95 per month
1 – ½inch meter $ 197.90 per month
2 inch meter $ 316.64 per month
3 inch meter $ 633.28 per month
4 inch meter $ 989.50 per month
6 inch meter $1,979.00 per month
INDUSTRIAL RATE
$8.63 per 1,000 gallons used per month.
WATER SALES FOR RESALE
All water for resale to Birch River Public Service District will be billed in accordance with the approved rate of $6.50 per 1,000 gallons used per month.
BULK USER – WEYERHAEUSER
Minimum (2,600,000 gallons) $25,050.90 per month
Next 200,000 gallons $9.63 per 1,000 gallons
All Over 2,800,000 gallons $7.03 per 1,000 gallons
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above schedule is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. The delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
RECONNECTION FEE
$20.00
To be charged whenever the supply of water is turned off for violations of rules, non-payment of bills, or fraudulent use of water.
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 customers applying for service before construction is completed adjacent to the customer’s premises in connection with a certificate proceeding before the Commission. This pre-construction tap fee will be invalid after the completion of construction adjacent to an applicant’s premises that is associated with a certificate proceeding.
A tap fee of $350.00 will be charged to all customers applying 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 District 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
$1.86 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when the bill reflects unusual water consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be applied to all such unusual consumption above 200% of the customer’s historical 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.
SCHEDULE II
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for private fire protection service.
RATE
Where connections, hydrants, sprinklers, etc., on private property are maintained by consumer:
Per Month:
2 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
and/or hose connections $ 3.60
3 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
and/or hose connections $ 8.13
4 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers
and/or hose connections $ 14.24
6 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
and/or hose connections $ 36.12
8 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
and/or hose connections $ 59.22
10 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
and/or hose connections $105.07
12 – inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
and/or hose connection $147.17
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above schedule is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is only to be collected once for each bill where it is appropriate.
These rates represent the following project-related increases (dollar amount shown on a monthly basis) that will become effective upon substantial completion of the project, unless otherwise ordered:
($) INCREASE INCREASE (%)
Residential (3,000 gal. avg.) 7.00 14.99%
Commercial (16,500 gal. avg.) 31.84 14.98%
Public Authority (40,300 gal. avg.) 65.43 15.00%
Industrial (4,700 gal. avg.) 10.13 14.99%
Weyerhaeuser (5,200,000 gal. avg.) 5,731.30 15.04%
Resale (1,700,000 gal. avg.) 1,547.00 15.04%
The District has one resale customer, Birch River Public Service District.
The proposed increased project-related rates will produce approximately $321,641 annually in additional revenue, an increase of 15.01%. The total increase 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. Furthermore, the requested rates and charges among the various classes of customers are only a proposal and are subject to change (increases or decreases) by the Public Service Commission in its review of this filing.
Anyone desiring to protest or intervene should file a written protest or request to intervene within thirty (30) days following the date of this publication unless otherwise modified by Commission order. Failure to timely protest or intervene can affect your right to protest aspects of this certificate case or participate in future proceedings. All protests or requests to intervene should briefly state the reason for the protest or request to intervene. Requests to intervene must comply with the rules on intervention set forth in the Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure. All protests and requests to intervene should be addressed to Karen Buckley, Executive Secretary, P.O. Box 812, Charleston, West Virginia 25323.
In the absence of substantial protest received within thirty (30) days of this publication, the Commission may waive formal hearing and grant the application based on the Commission review of the evidence submitted with the application.