Public Notice

CASE NO. 24-0054-W-CN
PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION OF WEST
VIRGINIA CHARLESTON
Issued: April 12, 2024
CHESTER MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT,
Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity.
PROCEDURAL ORDER
On February 1, 2024, the City of Chester (“City”) filed an Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity in Hancock County.
On March 4, 2024, Commission Staff filed an Initial Joint Staff Memorandum wherein it, inter alia, noted certain deficiencies in the proposed Notice of Filing provided by the City in its Application. Staff recommended the District cure the deficiencies and file a revised Notice of Filing.
On April 9, 2024, the City responded to Staff’s initial recommendations and provided a revised Notice of Filing.
DISCUSSION
Due to the time that has lapsed since the filing of the Application, it is reasonable to require the District to immediately provide publication notice of its Application by publishing the revised Notice of Filing as set forth below.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that the City of Chester immediately give notice of the filing of its Application by publishing a copy of the attached Notice of Filing once in a qualified newspaper as provided in W. Va. Code § 59-3-1, et seq., published and of general circulation in counties where service is provided, and immediately thereafter file a proper certification of publication with the Commission.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Executive Secretary serve a copy of this Order on the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office pursuant to W. Va. Code § 59-3-2(e).
Public Service Commission
of West Virginia Charleston
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Executive Secretary serve this Order upon Commission Staff by hand delivery, upon all parties of record who have filed an e-service agreement with the Commission by electronic service and upon all other parties by United States First Class Mail.
23war
KBW:wsl 240054aa.doc
K. B. Walker Administrative Law Judge
Public Service Commission of West Virginia Charleston
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON
2
CASE NO. 24-0054-W-CN
CHESTER MUNICIPAL WATER DEPARTMENT,
Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity.
NOTICE OF FILING
On February 1, 2024, the City of Chester (“City”) filed an Application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity in Hancock County.
The City proposes to construct certain additions and improvements to its water system which includes, but is not limited to, the addition and replacement of valves and waterlines in the City’s distribution system (“Project”).
The Application is on file with and available for public inspection at the Public Service Commission, 201 Brooks Street, Charleston, West Virginia, and includes a more detailed description of the Project.
The City estimates that construction will cost approximately $4,833,333.00 and proposes to fund the Project with a WesBanco Bank, Inc. loan in the amount of $1,500,000, with interest rate of 6.33%, for a term of ten (10) years; a grant from the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the amount of $2,500,000; and a grant from the West Virginia Water Development Authority in the amount of $833,333.
The City is in the process of enacting an Ordinance to increase water rates and charges for the Project, which will become effective upon substantial completion of the Project.
The City anticipates charging the following rates: RATES (Customers with a metered water supply)
First
Next
Next
3,000 gallons used per month 7,000 gallons used per month. 40,000 gallons used per month
Next
All Over
75,000 gallons used per month 125,000 gallons used per month
$10.95 per 1,000 gallons
$10.53 per 1,000 gallons $10.01 per 1,000 gallons $ 8.70 per 1,000 gallons $ 5.38 per 1,000 gallons
Public Service Commission
of West Virginia
Charleston
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than the following amount, according to the size
of the meter installed:
5/8 inch meter
$ 32.85 per month
3/4 inch meter
$ 49.26 per month
1
inch meter
$ 82.11 per month
1-1/2 inch meter
$ 164.21 per month
2
inch meter
$ 262.75 per month
3
inch meter
4
inch meter
6
inch meter
8
inch meter
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
$ 525.50 per month
$ 821.08 per month
$1,642.19 per month $2,627.48 per month
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the 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.
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 to be collected only once for each bill where it is
appropriate.
RECONNECT FEE: $50.00
To be charged whenever the supply of water is turned off for violation of rules or non-payment of sewer bills.
TAP FEE
The following charge is to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve
an applicant:
A tap fee of $750.00 will be charged to customers who apply for service outside of a certificate proceeding before the Commission for each new tap to the system.
LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$0.64 per 1,000 gallons of water is to be used when a 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 consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
Only one such leak adjustment shall be applied in a twelve month period.
Public Service Commission
of West Virginia Charleston
SECURITY DEPOSIT
Not to exceed two times the average monthly bill for the applicant’s specific customer class, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. This fee may be changed by applicable statutory provisions.
DAMAGED METER FEE Whenever a meter is damaged due to inclement weather and the customer has been negligent in maintaining adequate temperatures to prevent the meter from freezing and the bottom of the meter from bursting, the customer shall be assessed a fee of the greater of $25.00 or actual cost for the repair of said meter. Such fee is to be paid prior to the service being restored.
SCHEDULE II
APPLICABILITY
Applicable in entire territory served.
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for public fire protection.
PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE
The fee for a public fire hydrant is $100.00 per hydrant per year.
PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE
Where connections, hydrants, sprinklers, etc. on private property are maintained
by customer:
1 1/2 inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
$114.00 per year
and/or hose connections
2 inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
$192.00 per year
and/or hose connections
3 inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
$236.00 per year
and/or hose connections
4 inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers, and/or hose connections.
$286.00 per year
6 inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers,
$500.00 per year
and/or hose connections
8 inch Service Line with hydrants, sprinklers, and/or hose connections
$800.00 per year
Public Service Commission.
of West Virginia
Charleston
SCHEDULE III
APPLICABILITY Applicable within the entire territory served.
AVAILABILITY Available for drilling purposes used subject to the ability of the department to
provide such water without restricting or otherwise jeopardizing adequate water service to other customers. Individual contracts shall describe terms & conditions
under which service may be provided.
RATE
The Department shall negotiate rates for the agreed level of service, providing that there shall be a minimum volumetric charge of $8.00 per 1,000 gallons.
These rates represent the following project-related increases to become effective upon substantial completion of the project:
Residential (3,000)
Commercial (14,500)
($) INCREASE (%) INCREASE
6.98
27.00
32.31
27.00
There are no resale customers. The proposed increased rates and charges related to the project will produce
approximately $167,186 annually in additional revenue, an increase of 27%. This increase is in the process of being enacted by City Council following municipal ordinance procedures and can be challenged only through a proper petition as set forth in W. Va.
Code § 24-2-4b.
or
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 in the certificate proceeding 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 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 Executive Secretary, P. O. Box 812,
Charleston, West Virginia 25323.
In the absence of substantial protests received 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.
Public Service Commission
of West Virginia
Charleston
WDT Apr 19, 2024