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Drinking Water Rules & RegulationsDraft Revisions

April 24, 2019

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We want to hear from you.

• First comprehensive update to the Drinking Water Rules & Regulations since 2002

• Opportunity to comment through Friday, May 3– In-person– Online– US Mail

• Public comments will be considered prior to final adoption

Summary of Suggested Changes • Increased the penalty for damaging, stealing, removing or tampering with water meter; $300 $500.

Ratepayer still responsible for water meter and replacement costs. (Section 6.5)

• Integrated Leak Adjustment Policy. (Section 6.9)

• Simplified language related to water meter access. Creates consistency with Termination of Service provisions in Section 7. (Section 6.11)

• Termination of Service provisions updated. Most significant for non-payment and associated notice and termination procedures. This section also references the new, draft Collections Policy. (Section 7)

• Simplified language regarding CRW’s right to file municipal liens and actions to collect delinquent accounts and impose and collect attorney’s fees. (Section 11.6)

• Simplified CRW’s requirements for special systems, such as air conditioning and refrigeration systems, and deduct meters. (Section 13)

• Simplified language regarding availability of the Drinking Water Rules and Regulations and ensured electronic availability. (Section 14.13)

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Summary of Leak Adjustment Policy • Effective on February 1, 2019. No consideration of retroactive adjustments. • Policy provides the authority and procedure for a billing adjustment.• Adjustments will be limited to two consecutive months of metered consumption with

only one adjustment permitted every two years per property.• When an adjustment is warranted, the calculation may reflect a multiple of the

normal level of consumption. This multiple shall generally be no less than 1.5 (or 150 percent), therefore, holding the ratepayer responsible for their normal consumption plus an additional 50 percent of that normal consumption.

• Capital Region Water also reserves the right to make a billing adjustment based on the actual cost of producing the water (i.e., the variable production cost).

• Authority is also provided to make an adjustment for corresponding wastewater charges.

Collections Policy Review

• Purpose – External facing billing and collections policy– Implementation of uniform and consistent procedures/practices– Intended to ensure prompt and efficient collection of payments– Reduce volume and rate of delinquencies

• Significant highlights– Restructures the late penalty from a 1.5% monthly charge on all past due

balances to a 10% penalty on the current past due balance – Commits CRW to providing a delinquent notice for past due bills– Clarifies terms of payment arrangements – Addresses CRW’s collections methods

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Day in Billing Cycle Action on Account Fee Assessed

0 Bill issued - printed and dated. Typically, issued the 25th of each month. Due upon receipt. $0$1 for bill copies

21As applicable, delinquent account/collections actions begin.

Delinquent accounts noted in the billing system. Delinquency penalty assessed. 10 percent penalty

22 Delinquent Notice generated. $0

32 Termination Notice generated. Termination Notice Fee assessed. $25

42 Service is terminated and a Notice After Termination is provided. $0; there is a cost to CRW

Occurrence after termination Service Restoration after Termination. Service Restoration Fee assessed. $188 (proposed)

Any occurrence Returned Check Fee $35.00

Any occurrence Penalty for meter tampering. $500 + meter and theft of service costs

Draft Billing Schedule & Associated Fees

* Timeline subject to change in accordance with the Utility Service Tenants Rights Act

Payment Arrangements • Timely requests must be made in order to make systematic, scheduled partial

payments

• Partial payment outside of a formal payment arrangement would not stop the collections process

• Payment Schedule Criteria: – If the delinquent balance is between $200.00 and $500.00, the payment agreement shall not exceed 6

months.– If the delinquent balance is $500.01 to $1,000.00, the payment agreement shall not exceed 12 months.– If the delinquent balance is $1,000.01 to $2,500.00, the payment agreement shall not exceed 18 months.– If the delinquent balance is greater than $2,500.00, Capital Region Water will assess each account on a case-

by-case basis to determine if a payment agreement will be authorized and the length of time that will be allowed to repay the delinquent balance.

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We all need reminders• Service lines, including installation and maintenance, are the responsibility of the Ratepayer.

• Meters will be provided and installed by CRW. Meters are the property of CRW. Reasonable meter access must be provided.

• Each tap, typically each Property, is responsible for a ready-to-serve fee. This is the monthly cost of connection to the water system based on the size of pipe leading to the home or business.

• CRW reserves the right to terminate water service for nonpayment, but also theft, fraud, infrastructure interference, and any condition that could endanger public health, safety or welfare.

• Service line leaks must be repaired within 72 hours of notice. If the owner refuses or neglects to comply, CRW will make the repair as necessary and bill accordingly.

Ratepayers are Responsible for Water & Sewer Service Laterals • In Harrisburg, like most

communities, homeowners are responsible for the water and sewer laterals that run from their house to the connection at the public main.

• Homeowners must maintain and make repairs to these laterals when there is an issue.

• CRW is responsible for the public water and sewer mains that connect all service laterals to our central facilities.

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Know Your Meter • CRW provides a meter for each

property; meter remains CRW property.

• Ratepayer is responsible for maintenance/care of the meter.

• CRW may require repair/replacement and may impose a penalty, due to:• Negligence, including freezing; • Theft or removal; or• Tampering

• CRW must be provided reasonable meter access.

• Regardless of water consumption, each Property is charged a ready-to-serve fee.

Detect & Chase Down Leaks

• Check Your Bill - Review your water usage regularly, especially during colder months like January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there may be serious leaks.

• Learn How & Read Your Meter - Check your water meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you may have a leak.

• Take a Test - Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you may have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.) Then examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

More info and tips provided courtesy of the EPA WaterSense Program

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Questions and Comments

To review and comment, please visit capitalregionwater.com/rulesandregulations

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