2258856 D.C. Water and Sewer Authority - Amend Rates for Sewer Service, Fire Protection Service Fee and Definitions

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

The Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (the Board), pursuant to the authority set forth in section 216 of the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-111, §§ 203(3), (11) and 216; D.C. Official Code §§ 34-2202.03(3) and (11) (2010 Repl.) and D.C. Official Code § 34-2202.16 (2010 Repl.)); and in accordance with section 6(a) of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1206; D.C. Official Code § 2-505(a)(2011 Repl.)); and chapter 40, “Retail Ratemaking,” of title 21, “Water and Sanitation,” of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR), hereby gives notice of its intention to amend section 4101, “Rates for Sewer Service,” section 4103, “Fire Protection Service Fee,” and add a new section 4199, “Definitions,” of chapter 41, “Retail Water and Sewer Rates,” of the DCMR.

 

The Board expressed its intention to amend the DCMR at its regularly scheduled Board meeting held on April 5, 2012, pursuant to Board Resolutions # 12-46 and 12-47.  Final rulemaking action shall be taken in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.

 

In addition, the Board will receive comments on these proposed rates at a public hearing at a later date. The public hearing notice will be published in a subsequent edition of the D.C. Register.

 

Section 4101, RATES FOR SEWER SERVICE, of chapter 41, RETAIL WATER AND SEWER RATES, of title 21, WATER AND SANITATION, of the DCMR is amended as follows:

 

Subsection 4101.1 is amended by (1) removing the term “and” after subparagraph (a)(2); (2) by adding a semicolon (;) after subparagraph (b)(2); and (3) by adding new paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) to read as follows:

 

(c)        The retail groundwater sewer charge for an unimproved real property under construction shall be two dollars and thirty-three cents ($2.33) per CCF (one hundred cubic feet (1 CCF) equals seven hundred forty-eight and five hundredths gallons (748.05 gals.)) for groundwater discharged into the District’s wastewater sewer system;

 

(d)       The retail cooling water sewer charge for residential and non-residential customers shall be the retail sanitary sewer service rate set forth in subsection 4101.1(a) for cooling water discharged into the District’s wastewater sewer system; and

 

(e)        The retail non-potable water source sewer charge for residential and non-residential customers shall be the retail sanitary sewer service rate set forth in subsection 4101.1(a) for non-potable water discharged into the District’s wastewater sewer system.

 

Section 4103, FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE FEE, of chapter 41, RETAIL WATER AND SEWER RATES, of title 21, WATER AND SANITATION, of the DCMR is amended as follows:

 

4103                FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE FEE

 

4103.1             The charge to the District of Columbia for fire protection service, including, but not limited to the delivery of water for firefighting, the cost of maintaining and upgrading public fire hydrants in the District of Columbia, and the cost of conducting fire hydrant inspections performed by the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services shall be seven hundred and seventy dollars ($770) per fire hydrant, per year, effective October 1, 2012. The fee may be examined at least once every three (3) years to determine if the fee is sufficient to recoup the actual costs for providing this service. In the event the costs are not being recouped, the District shall pay the difference and the fee will be appropriately adjusted pursuant to the rulemaking process.

 

Chapter 41, RETAIL WATER AND SEWER RATES, of title 21, WATER AND SANITATION, of the DCMR is amended by adding a new section 4199 to read as follows:

 

4199                DEFINITIONS

 

4199.1             When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed:

 

Cooling Water – water used as a heat conductor in cooling towers.

 

Non-Potable Water Source – water from a source or sources including, but not limited to, surface water or trucked water, but excluding water from the District’s water distribution supply system, groundwater or cooling water.

 

Comments on these proposed rules should be submitted, in writing, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register to, Linda R. Manley, Secretary to the Board, District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, 5000 Overlook Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20032, or by email to [e-mail] or by FAX at [phone]. Copies of these proposed rules may be obtained from the DC Water at the same address or by contacting Ms. Manley at [phone].