1 billing adjustments utilities department orange county board of county commissioners march 20,...
TRANSCRIPT
1
BILLING ADJUSTMENTS
Utilities Department
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
March 20, 2012
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• Background
• Response
• Existing Billing Adjustments
• Recommendation
Presentation Outline
3
• Background
Response
Existing Billing Adjustments
Recommendation
Presentation Outline
4
• Homeowners who replace their lawn may face very high water bills- The price of water in the two
highest rate tiers was increased substantially in 2007 and again in 2009 to promote conservation
• No form of relief under existing business practices
Background
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• High water bills due to lawn replacement was discussed- September 13, 2011- February 7, 2012
• Board direction to review current business practices- Increase public
awareness - Consider financial relief
Background
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Background
130 GPD/capita
Faucets(6%)
Bathtub(2%)
Dishwasher(1%)
Clothes Washer(12%) Leaks
(5%) Other(1%)
Showers(7%)
Toilet(12%)
Outdoor(54%)
Water Use Categories(per capita 130g/day)
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• Water Conservation- Modify behaviors and
practices that lead to more efficient water use
- Improve or take advantage of new technologies to reduce water consumption
- Three components– Education programs– Incentive programs– Regulatory programs
Background
Education
Incentive Regulatory
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• Education- School Programs- Home Improvement and
Garden Centers- Composting and Rain
Barrel Workshops- Residential Irrigation
Workshops- Florida Friendly
Landscape Workshops- Website- EPA Water Sense Partner- Irrigation Focus Group
Background
Education90%
Incentive Regulatory
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• Incentive- Mobile Irrigation Lab Audits- Toilet Voucher Program- Pre-rinse Spray Valve Program- Low-Flow Fixture Program
Background
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• Regulatory- Water Watch Program
– Educational Contacts – Timer Resets– Violation Notices– Violation Hearings– Fines Issued
Background
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• OCU Rate tier structure- Inclining block rates- Conservation price signal
Background
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- Irrigation of new landscape is allowed• any time of day on any day for first 30 days• every other day for the next 30 days• limited to the minimum necessary for such
landscape establishment
Background
St. Johns River WMD
South Florida WMD
• Water Management Districts Requirements
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• Homeowners directed by landscaping companies to water excessively
• Monthly water bill can be in the $600 to $1,000 range or higher
• Lawn replacement affects a small segment of the customer base- Approximately 300 customer
inquiries annually• Utilities we queried have no
policies for financial relief
Background
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• Background
• Response
• Existing Billing Adjustments
• Recommendation
Presentation Outline
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• Increase customer education on lawn irrigation requirements
• Consider modifying business practices to provide financial relief
Response
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• Increase public education- Bill messages- Bill stuffers- Website presence- Landscape companies- IFAS / Cooperative Extension –
recommended irrigation guidelines for new lawns
Response
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• Modify current business practices to provide financial relief one time per year per home- Homeowners requesting lawn
replacement adjustment must:– Complete application and provide
documentation of lawn replacement – Pay bill or establish satisfactory payment
arrangement in the interim
Response
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- Utilities staff will:– Calculate previous 12-month average
water usage – Compare average to usage during lawn
replacement time period to determine water usage to be adjusted
– Calculate adjustment for water usage in excess of the average
– Usage above the average will be billed at appropriate rate tier
– Adjust wastewater portion of bill if average usage falls below the 14,000 gallon cap for residential customers
Response
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13.90$ 27.60$ 55.10$
826.50$ 92.31$
1,015.41$ Total
Next 10,000 gallons @ $ 2.76Next 10,000 gallons @ $ 5.51Next 75,000 gallons @ $11.02PST
Monthly bill without proposed change:Total irrigation consumption - 105,000 gallonsTotal irrigation bill amount - $1,015.41 First 10,000 gallons @ $ 1.39
Response
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13.90$ 16.56$
245.64$ 27.61$
303.71$
Monthly bill with proposed change:Total irrigation consumption - 105,000 gallonsTotal irrigation bill amount - $303.71 Calculated 12 month average - 16,000 gallonsFirst 10,000 gallons @ $ 1.39Next 6,000 gallons @ $ 2.76Next 89,000 gallons @ $ 2.76PSTTotal
Response
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13.90$ 16.56$
245.64$ 27.61$
303.71$
Monthly bill with proposed change:Total irrigation consumption - 105,000 gallonsTotal irrigation bill amount - $303.71 Calculated 12 month average - 16,000 gallonsFirst 10,000 gallons @ $ 1.39Next 6,000 gallons @ $ 2.76Next 89,000 gallons @ $ 2.76PSTTotal
Response
Customer Savings of $711.70
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• Background
• Response
• Existing Billing Adjustments
• Recommendation
Presentation Outline
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• High bill issue brought up for discussion during February 7, 2012 BCC meeting during public comment and open discussion
• Board directed staff to review unexplained one time spikes in residential water consumption
Existing Billing Adjustments
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• Pool Fill• Leak • Fast Flow• Unexplained
Existing Billing Adjustments
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• Pool Fill
- One time per year / per account - Provides financial relief when customer
supplies repair documentation- Provides financial relief on wastewater
portion of the bill only- 12-month average usage is used to calculate
wastewater adjustment for the month- Processed 541 pool fill adjustments in FY11
totaling $11,830
Existing Billing Adjustments
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• Leak Adjustment
- One time per year / per account - Provides financial relief when customer
supplies repair documentation- Consumption over average is not subject to
wastewater charges- 12-month average usage is used to calculate
water adjustment for the month- Additional usage over average is billed at
base rate - Processed 3,342 leak adjustments in FY11
totaling $1,115,760
Existing Billing Adjustments
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• Fast Flow Adjustment
- As tested and verified- Meters are removed and bench tested
adhering to AWWA standards (±1.5%)- Meters registering above 101.5% threshold
are provided adjustment for past 12 months- Usage for prior 12 months adjusted based on
AWWA standard- Processed 222 fast flow adjustments in FY11
totaling $23,790
Existing Billing Adjustments
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• Unexplained Adjustment
- Covered under Resolution No. 91-SW-09- Resolution predates the current 5 tier inclining
block rate structure- Provides financial relief to customers who
experience high usage with no discernable explanation
- Processed 36 unexplained adjustments in FY11 totaling $19,190
Existing Billing Adjustments
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• Background
• Response
• Existing Billing Adjustments
• Recommendation
Presentation Outline
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• Coordinate with County Attorney to draft resolution to address all five billing adjustment types going forward- Lawn Replacement- Pool Fill- Leak- Fast Meter- Unexplained
• New resolution will come back to BCC
Recommendation
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BILLING ADJUSTMENTS
Utilities Department
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
March 20, 2012