A.
Applicability. County utility customers shall be charged
an administrative set-up charge to cover all costs related to the
application process, including verifying service, locating the service
line installation, and any other tasks necessary to establish availability
of service. Other charges as set forth in this rate schedule may be
required as determined by the Utility Administrator. Applicable gross
receipts taxes will be added to all charges.[1]
B.
Service application. Customers must request service
by completing an application for wastewater service and user agreement
available at the offices of the Doña Ana County Utilities Department
or designated agent. All administrative charges and other required
charges must be paid or payment arrangements made prior to approving
the customer's application for wastewater service and user agreement.
C.
The administrative set-up charge shall be in an amount as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits. The administrative set-up charge shall increase when the hook-up of any occupied home or business exceeds six months as required by this chapter. For each wastewater service area identified, the County shall conduct an inventory of all dwellings at the time the "Notice of Availability" is announced. The announcement of "Notice of Availability" shall start the six-month mandatory connection period.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
D.
Stand-by charge. All applicants that have paid the
administrative set-up charge within the mandatory connection period
but have not physically connected to the wastewater system shall be
billed the minimum fixed monthly charge for the appropriate customer
classification (Rate Schedule 3[2]), beginning on the seventh month. If a customer has not
paid the administrative set-up charge and is not physically connected
to the wastewater system, the customer shall pay the increased administrative
set-up charge as described in Subsection B(1) above, and the minimum
fixed monthly charge for the appropriate customer classification (Rate
Schedule 3). All uncollected stand-by charges must be paid prior to
connection to the system.
F.
Installation charges.
(1)
If a customer's property does not yet have a wastewater
service connection to the property, but does have a main wastewater
line within 300 feet of the property, the customer is required to
pay for service connection installation charges, including materials
and labor. At the time of application for service, the County will
provide the residential and small commercial prospective customer
with a set of standards that describe the type of service required.
The size of the installation shall be based on the recommendation
of the customer's licensed plumber. Only licensed contractors are
permitted to connect to the County's main wastewater line. The County
shall determine the location of the wastewater service installation.
Wastewater services involving an industrial user shall require the
recommendation of a licensed plumber or engineer and shall comply
with all applicable requirements of the customer's discharge permit.
(2)
If a customer chooses to have the County or its designated
representative connect to the main wastewater line, the County charges
will be based on actual costs plus an administrative fee of 10%.
G.
Exclusions. Charges described in this rate schedule
may not be applicable to wastewater system customers where the installation
of new connections, wastewater lines and facilities has been completed
with the support of federal, state, and/or other grant funds. Further,
Doña Ana Village is excluded from this rate schedule until
further action by the County. Doña Ana Village rates are presently
provided for under a preexisting and detailed contract which includes
Doña Ana Village, the County and the City of Las Cruces as
parties.
The one-time charge is applicable to all new
customers who connect to the County's system. Service will be furnished
in accordance with the County's Rules and Regulations addressing wastewater
service. Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added
to all charges.
A.
One-time charges shall be as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits. The one-time charge for customers with water meter sizes greater than two inches shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. The evaluation will include but is not limited to consideration of the volume and characteristics of wastewater discharge, pretreatment requirements, and the cost to the wastewater utility's infrastructure and treatment capacities. The determination shall be described and executed by contract.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
B.
Multi-unit service lines with individual meters. A customer may request individual meters to be installed for a multi-unit property. A master meter shall be required and the one-time charge for the applicable meter size will be applied. For each individual meter requested to be installed beyond the master meter, a multi-unit surcharge will be required in an amount as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
C.
Residential volume discounts. In the case of a large
subdivision (more than 40 lots), the County will offer volume discounts
for the one-time charge (residential classification only), when payments
are made in advance of construction (60 days after subdivision approval).
The discounts shall apply according to the following table:
|
Subdivision Size
(lots)
|
Discount Per Lot
| |
|---|---|---|
|
40 to 100
|
10%
| |
|
101 to 200
|
15%
| |
|
More than 200
|
20%
|
D.
Exclusions. Charges described in this rate schedule
may not be applicable to wastewater system customers where the installation
of new connections, wastewater lines and facilities has been completed
with the support of federal, state, and/or other grant funds. Further,
Doña Ana Village is excluded from this rate schedule until
further action by the County. Doña Ana Village rates are presently
provided for under a preexisting and detailed contract which includes
Doña Ana Village, the County and the City of Las Cruces as
parties.
A.
Applicability.
(1)
The residential and commercial rates are available
only for normal wastewater dischargers at individual residences, individual
dwelling units, individual farm units, apartments, and commercial
establishments. Service shall be provided through a single wastewater
service line at a location to be designated by the County.
C.
Monthly fixed and variable charges. The charge for
wastewater service provided shall be the sum of fixed (F) and variable
(V). Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added to
all charges.[2] See the rates set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
D.
Minimum charge. The minimum charge under this schedule
shall be the fixed monthly charge regardless of volume of flow measured.
E.
Surcharge for excess waste strength.
[Amended 5-23-2017 by Res. No. 2017-51]
(1)
A
surcharge shall be applied to all users for excess wastewater strength
above domestic levels as defined by this chapter.
(2)
A monthly biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) surcharge will be assessed
for every milligram per liter (mg/L) BOD higher than 250 mg/L per
pound per million gallons of industrial waste discharged, and a monthly
total suspended solids (TSS) surcharge will be assessed for every
milligram per liter (mg/L) TSS higher than 200 mg/L per pound per
million gallons of industrial waste discharged.[3]
F.
Exclusions. Doña Ana Village is excluded from
this rate schedule until further action by the County. Doña
Ana Village rates are presently provided for under a preexisting and
detailed contract which includes Doña Ana Village, the County
and the City of Las Cruces as parties.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
Special charges are applicable to special services
as defined in the County's rules and regulations regarding wastewater
service.[1] Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added
to all charges.[2]
A.
Collection charge. If the customer does not pay for wastewater service within the time specified by the bill, the County shall charge a rate as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, for each month the bill is unpaid.
B.
Reactivation charge. Whenever service is discontinued
for nonpayment of charges, nonuse, or similar reasons, as described
in Rule No. 12, Discontinuance and Denial of Restoration of Service,[3] a charge as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, shall be assessed by the County for the cost of reactivating service.
C.
Returned check or bank draft charge. The County shall assess a charge as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, in the event the customer's check or bank draft is returned for insufficient funds, cancellation of account or for any other reason attributable to the customer.
D.
Exclusions. Doña Ana Village is excluded from
this rate schedule until further action by the County. Doña
Ana Village rates are presently provided for under a preexisting and
detailed contract which includes Doña Ana Village, the County
and the City of Las Cruces as parties.
