City of Camden, NJ: Process to request refund or to dispute bill.

[Last amended 5-13-2025 by Ord. No. MC-5564[1]]

Whenever a meter shall have been introduced to measure the quantity of water consumed, the schedule of rates to govern the use and supply of water shall be determined by the size of the meter, together with the quantity of water consumed, as follows:

Water Quarterly Charges
Meter Size	Current	September 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024	CY 2025	CY 2026	CY 2027	CY 2028
5/8	$22.05	$26.90	$27.70	$28.55	$29.40	$30.30
3/4	$33.08	$40.40	$41.60	$42.85	$44.15	$45.50
1	$55.13	$67.30	$69.30	$71.40	$73.55	$75.80
1 1/2	$110.25	$134.50	$138.50	$142.75	$147.00	$151.50
2	$176.40	$215.20	$221.60	$228.40	$235.20	$242.40
3	$352.80	$430.40	$443.20	$456.80	$470.40	$484.80
4	$551.25	$672.50	$692.50	$713.75	$735.00	$757.50
6	$1,102.50	$1,345.00	$1,385.00	$1,427.50	$1,470.00	$1,515.00
8	$1,764.00	$2,152.00	$2,216.00	$2,284.00	$2,352.00	$2,424.00
10	$2,646.00	$3,228.00	$3,324.00	$3,426.00	$3,528.00	$3,636.00
12	$3,969.00	$4,842.00	$4,986.00	$5,139.00	$5,292.00	$5,454.00

Additional charge in accordance with the amount of water consumed. Each customer, in addition to all of the above charges, shall pay for the quantity of water consumed at the following rates:

Water Residential Volume Rates (per 100 cubic feet)
Tier	From (square feet)	To (square feet)	Current	September 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024	CY 2025	CY 2026	CY 2027	CY 2028
Tier 1	-	1,500	$3.20	$3.90	$4.02	$4.14	$4.26	$4.39
Tier 2	1,501	3,000	$4.80	$5.85	$6.03	$6.21	$6.39	$6.59
Tier 3	Over	3,000	$6.35	$7.74	$7.98	$8.22	$8.45	$8.71

Water Commercial Volume Rate (per 100 cubic feet)
	Current	September 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024	CY 2025	CY 2026	CY 2027	CY 2028
All usage	$4.80	$5.85	$6.03	$6.21	$6.39	$6.59

Bulk sale to public or private water company: $2.50 per 100 cubic feet or 748 gallons.

The owner(s) of all buildings in which the quantity of water consumed is measured by a meter but where the owner does not permit the City or its agents access to the interior of the property to read the meter shall pay water rents calculated at an estimated consumption of 4,800 cubic feet per quarter.

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that the rates established therein shall be effective for all bills after December 1, 2023, based on consumption beginning September 1, 2023, as measured by meter readings starting December 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024. For calendar year (CY) 2025, and subsequent years, new rates shall be effective for all bills beginning January 1 of the CY based on consumption beginning October 1. All nonmetered rates will follow the same implementation schedule.

§ 840-24 Unmetered rates.

[Last amended 5-13-2025 by Ord. No. MC-5564[1]]

The owner(s) of all buildings in which the quantity of water consumed is not measured by meter shall pay water rents calculated at an estimated consumption of 4,800 cubic feet per quarter.

Water Unmetered Charges
	Current	September 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024	CY 2025	CY 2026	CY 2027	CY 2028
Unmetered residential	$256.35	$312.45	$322.04	$331.68	$341.31	$351.73
Unmetered commercial	$252.45	$562.58	$606.58	$624.71	$642.84	$662.94

Each unmetered customer shall, in addition, pay a quarterly administrative charge equal to the average of the five-eighths- and three-fourths-inch meter charges.

[1]

§ 840-25 Unmetered buildings; adjustments.

[Added 4-24-2003 by Ord. No. MC-3830]

For all buildings where there is no meter reading available, the rate to be charged shall be the same rate applicable to unmetered buildings pursuant to § 840-24 of the Camden Code.

The charges imposed hereunder may be adjusted based on an actual reading of a meter and installation of a remote read meter. If the meter is found to be malfunctioning, the meter must be changed and an adjustment may be considered for the most recent billing cycle based off of the average daily consumption from the new meter; provided, however, no amount which is incorporated in a tax sale certificate held by a third party may be waived.

[Amended 6-12-2022 by Ord. No. MC-5391]

§ 840-26 When rents payable; late payment charges.

[Amended 6-27-1996 by Ord. No. MC-3225[1]; 6-27-2002 by Ord. No. MC-3766; 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. MC-5117]

The metered and unmetered water rents shall be payable upon presentation.

The penalties for nonpayment shall be as follows:

(1)

A water bill will be charged a penalty of 6% to the extent that the total delinquent property taxes and other municipal charges exceed $10,000.

(2)

All such bills not paid shall be subject to an interest charge of 8% per annum on the first $1,500 of the delinquency and 18% per annum on any amount in excess of $1,500, to be calculated from the date the charge was payable until the date of actual payment.

Any property found to be connected to a City water main which has not been previously billed shall be back charged for service as follows:

Customer Type	Back Billing Period (months)
Residential	12
Commercial	24

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that "the rates set forth in this ordinance shall be retroactively applied starting from April 1, 1996, and shall be included in all bills mailed in July 1996."

§ 840-27 Process to request refund or to dispute bill.

[Amended 6-12-2022 by Ord. No. MC-5391; 5-13-2025 by Ord. No. MC-5560]

No refund on any claims accruing under this article shall be paid unless such claim shall be made within 30 days after issuance of the charges by the City.

Customers have the right and the responsibility to contact the City of Camden's Water and Sewer Customer Service Office for clarification or correction of disputed charges. If the dispute is not resolved by Customer Service, customers have the right to initiate an appeal to the City of Camden Law Department. Such appeal shall be made, in writing on a form approved by the Water and Sewer Committee, mailed or delivered to the Municipal Clerk within 30 days of the last response from Customer Service. Such an appeal shall be clearly labeled as "Appeal of Water and Sewer Charges."

A customer shall have the right to appeal their water and/or sewer bill provided that the customer meets the following criteria:

(1)

The customer has an established account for their water and/or sewer service with the City of Camden.

(2)

The customer has an established payment history with the City of Camden and, with the exception of their disputed bill, must not owe the City of Camden for previous utility services provided.

(3)

The customer has provided Customer Service with interior access of the customer's premises to read the meter.

(4)

The customer agrees to pay for all services received as determined by the Committee's investigation into their appeal.

Appeal process.

(1)

Appeals shall only be permitted for charges incurred within the preceding billing cycle. Upon notification of an appeal, additional interest and late fees will be suspended until a final determination has been made on the appeal.

(2)

The appeal shall be reviewed by the City's Water and Sewer Committee (the "Committee"). The Water and Sewer Committee shall consist of the Director of Public Works or his/her designee; the Director of Finance or his/her designee; the Business Administrator or his/her designee and the City Engineer or his/her designee.

(3)

If the customer disagrees with the decision rendered by the Committee, both parties shall retain all of their rights under the law. Upon the rendering of the decision of the Committee, if the charges are not paid in accordance with the terms set by the Committee, late fees and penalties shall be reinstated.

(4)

The Business Administrator shall have the authority to cancel interest and charges totaling not more than $5,000. The cancellation of interest and charges exceeding $5,000 shall require the approval of City Council.

Leak adjustment.

(1)

Any claim for adjustment of charges for water used in excess because of waste due to leakage on inside piping and fixtures, must be made on a special form provided by Customer Service. Claimant must explain the nature of the leak and what was done to repair the leak. Claimant must certify that the leak has been repaired. The attachment of receipts from a plumber or handyman is encouraged, but not required.

(2)

The form should be mailed to the Municipal Clerk at 520 Market Street, City Hall Room 105, Camden, New Jersey 08102-1300 or emailed to Clerk@camdennj.gov. The Municipal Clerk shall forward the claim to the City Attorney.

(3)

A leak adjustment request must be submitted within three months of a leak repair.

(4)

The Water and Sewer Committee will review the claim to determine if the claimant has satisfied the requirements of this section. If approved, water usage occurring during the leak period (not to exceed three months) will be adjusted and billed at a flat rate of 48 ccf.

(5)

A leak adjustment may be made only once in 60 months unless there has been a change of ownership. Leak adjustments will only be available to residential services as defined in § 840-12.

§ 840-28 Water capacity fees.

[Added 4-16-2009 by Ord. No. MC-4460[1]]

Capacity fee established. All new properties obtaining water service and requiring the installation of a water meter are required to pay a capacity fee for the purchase of water system capacity. The capacity fee is intended to recover the past or future capital costs of the City's water system which have a system-wide benefit, the amount of which shall be based on meter size. The capacity fee is payable to the City at the time a building permit is issued or at the time of installation of a new meter for an existing property. A property replacing an existing meter with a larger meter shall be charged a capacity fee based on the difference in the capacity fee between the old and new meter size.

Capacity fees. The water system capacity fees are as follows:

Meter Size (inches)	Capacity Fee
5/8	$1,250
3/4	$1,875
1	$3,125
1 1/2	$6,250
2	$10,000
3	$20,000
4	$31,250
6	$62,500
8	$100,000
10	$150,000
12	$225,000

Additional considerations related to capacity fees.

(1)

Upon approval by the Director of Finance, any person obligated to pay any of the capacity fees set forth in this article shall receive a credit against the amounts due or to become due for public improvements installed and paid for by such person, if such public improvements are in addition to the public improvements required.

(2)

It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy or use for any purpose any real property for which a capacity fee is due and payable prior to having paid such fee. Each day of such occupancy or use shall be a separate offense.

(3)

All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in a water and sewer facility fund and shall be used for the projects identified as water and sewer capital improvements.

Unmetered fees. All unmetered facilities shall pay a capacity charge based on the size of the service in accordance with the schedule above.

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance was amended 6-23-2009 by Ord. No. MC-4476 to provide that rates would be effective as of 1-1-2009.