Water and Sewer Billing Units_Water Meter Change Out ProjectMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Water and Sewer Billing Units
DATE: January 25, 2010
Dubuque
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2007
As part of the Water Meter Change Out Project, the City will begin monthly billing of the
water and sewer consumption in gallons versus the current 100 cubic feet. Switching
billing units provides more information to our customers about their usage patterns.
Finance Director Ken TeKippe recommends City Council approval of revised ordinances
relative to billing for water and sewer.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Ken TeKippe, Finance Director
chael C. Van Milligen
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Ken TeKippe, Finance Director
SUBJECT: Water and Sewer Billing Units
DATE: January 21, 2010
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Enclosures
Dubuque
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2007
As part of the Water Meter Change Out Project, the City will begin monthly billing of
water and sewer consumption in gallons versus the current 100 cubic feet. Switching
billing units from 100 cubic feet to gallons provides more information to our customers
about their usage patterns. Example: the monthly billing statement will replace 3 units
with 2,244 gallons. During discussions with the vendor for our project, Northern Water
Works Supply, it was noted that billing in gallons is the most prevalent method used by
utilities with many utilities switching to gallons, particularly at the time of a change out
project.
During the entire RFP process, it has been anticipated that a switch in billing units
would be forthcoming. The billing effect of changing from 100 cubic feet to gallons
would have an insignificant net change in revenue. Preliminary analysis anticipates a
total annual revenue reduction of $1,200 for water and sewer combined.
It is recommended that the change be effective immediately to avoid customers
receiving bills in 100 cubic feet and gallons when their new meters are installed. Our
Information Services staff will work with Utility Billing to convert the billing to gallons.
City Council approval of the revised ordinances relative to billing for water and sewer is
required.
ORDINANCE NO. 5-10
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 13 PUBLIC
UTILITIES, CHAPTER 1 WATER USE AND SERVICE, ARTICLE C RATES, SECTION
13- 1C -1(A) ESTABLISHING WATER RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL,
INDUSTRIAL, AND ALL OTHER USES
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 13 -1 C -1(A) of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 13- 1C -1A: Residential, Commercial, Industrial and All Other Uses.
A. Rates Established: The rates to be charged for water for residential,
commercial, industrial and all other uses and purposes by any person, firm or
corporation within the city shall be based on units of one hundred cubic feet (748
gallons) or per gallon as follows:
Meter Size
Inches
5/8
3/4
1
1 1/2
2
3
4
6
8
Monthly Consumption
(in Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
First 30
Next 120
Next 350
Next 500
Next 1,000
Monthly Consumption
(in Gallons)
First 22,440
Next 89,760
Next 261,800
Next 374,000
Next 748,000
ORDINANCE NO. 5 -10
Monthly Consumption
(In Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
2
5
8
26
46
106
168
368
625
Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet
$2.12
$1.73
$1.61
$1.42
$1.25
Charge per
Gallon
0.00283
0.00231
0.00215
0.00190
0.00167
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charge according to the
size of the meter:
Monthly Consumption
(In Gallons)
1,496
3,740
5,984
19,448
34,408
79,288
125,664
275,264
467,500
Minimum Charge
$ 4.24
$ 10.61
$ 16.97
$ 55.17
$ 91.34
$ 195.16
$ 300.22
$ 621.58
$1,011.36
Attest:
A property owner shall pay a $30.00 disconnect fee for water service that is
disconnected by city staff (meter not in service). When a tenant account is
subject to disconnection due to delinquency, the tenant shall pay the $30.00
disconnect fee.
A minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect upon publication.
Passed, approved and adopted this 1 day of February 2010.
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
Roy Buol, Mayor
Meter Size
Inches
5/8
3/4
1
1 1/2
2
3
4
6
8
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
Section 13-1C-1A: Residential, Commercial, Industrial and All Other Uses.
A. Rates Established: The rates to be charged for water for residential,
commercial, industrial and all other uses and purposes by any person, firm or
corporation within the city shall be based on units of one hundred cubic feet (748
gallons) or per gallon as follows:
Monthly Consumption
(in Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
First 30
Next 120
Next 350
Next 500
Next 1,000
Monthly Consumption
(in Gallons)
First 22,440
Next 89,760
Next 261,800
Next 374,000
Next 748,000
Monthly Consumption
(In Hundreds of Cubic Feet)
2
5
8
26
46
106
168
368
625
Charge per
Hundred Cubic Feet
$2.12
$1.73
$1.61
$1.42
$1.25
Charge per
Gallon
0.00283
0.00231
0.00215
0.00190
0.00167
Rates shall be subject to the following minimum monthly charge according to the
size of the meter:
Monthly Consumption
(In Gallons)
1,496
3,740
5,984
19,448
34,408
79,288
125,664
275,264
467,500
Minimum Charge
$ 4.24
$ 10.61
$ 16.97
$ 55.17
$ 91.34
$ 195.16
$ 300.22
$ 621.58
$1,011.36
A property owner shall pay a $30.00 disconnect fee for water service that is
disconnected by city staff (meter not in service). When a tenant account is
subject to disconnection due to delinquency, the tenant shall pay the $30.00
disconnect fee.
A $5.00 minimum monthly charge shall be assessed for meters not in service.
ORDINANCE NO. 6-10
Section 13 -2C -3: Rates Established:
C. Service Charge:
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 13- 2C -3(B)
ESTABLISHING THE SCHEDULE OF RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL SEWER USERS BY INCREASING THE RATES; AND AMENDING
SECTION 13- 2C- 3(C)(7) ESTABLISHING THE MINIMUM SERVICE CHARGE BY
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SERVICE CHARGE
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 13- 2C -3(B) of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is
amended to read as follows:
B. Schedule Of Rates:
Rates per each one hundred (100) cubic feet
Rate per each gallon
$2.37
$0.00317
Section 2. Section 13- 2C- 3(C)(7) of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is
amended to read as follows:
7. Where the quantity of water consumed is such that the minimum service is
charged, the minimum sewer service charge, according to the size of the
meter, shall be as follows:
Meter Size Minimum Allowance Allowance
(inches) Charge (cubic feet) (gallons)
5/8 $ 4.75 200 1,496
3/4 $ 11.84 500 3,740
1 or larger $ 18.96 800 5,984
Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect upon publication.
Passed, approved and adopted this 1 day of February 2010.
Attest:
L
Roy,;+ Buol, Mayor
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
Section 13 -2C -3: Rates Established:
C. Service Charge:
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
B. Schedule Of Rates:
Rates per each one hundred (100) cubic feet
Rate per each gallon
$2.37
$0.00317
7. Where the quantity of water consumed is such that the minimum service is
charged, the minimum sewer service charge, according to the size of the meter,
shall be as follows:
Meter Size Minimum Allowance Allowance
(inches) Charge (cubic feet) (gallons)
5/8 $ 4.75 200 1,496
3/4 $ 11.84 500 3,740
1 or larger $ 18.96 800 5,984