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 meter
installation, and any other tasks necessary to establish availability
of service. Other charges may be required as determined by the Utility
Administrator. Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be
added to all charges.[1]
B.
Service application. Customers must request service
by completing an application for water service and user agreement
available at the offices of the Doña Ana County Utilities Department
or designated agent. All administrative charges must be paid or payment
arrangements approved prior to approving the customer's application
for water 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 water 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 water service 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 water service, 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.
Meter installation charges.
(1)
The meter installation materials, labor, costs and
related charges are the responsibility of the customer. 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 meter installation required. Only licensed
contractors will be allowed to tap an existing water line. The size
of the installation shall be based on the recommendation of the customer's
licensed plumber. The County shall determine the location of the meter
installation. Services larger than two inches, generally for larger
commercial customers, shall require the recommendation of a licensed
plumber or engineer and shall comply with all applicable backflow
prevention requirements in place at the time of application.
(2)
If a customer chooses to have the County or its designated
representative tap into the water 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 water system customers where the installation
of new meters, water lines and facilities has been completed with
the support of federal, state, and/or other grant funds.
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 water
service. Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added
to all charges.[1]
A.
One-time charges shall be as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits. The one-time charge for 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 use of water requirements for the facility and its processes, the fire flow requirements, and the cost to the water utility's infrastructure and production/distribution 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 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 water system customers where the installation
of new meters, water lines and facilities has been completed with
the support of federal, state, and/or other grant funds.
A.
Applicability.
(1)
Residential and commercial rates are available for
normal domestic water use to individual residences, individual dwelling
units, individual farm units, individual apartments, and commercial
establishments. All service shall be delivered through a single water
service at a location to be designated by the County.
C.
D.
Minimum charge. The minimum charge under this schedule
shall be the fixed monthly charge, regardless of the volume of water
delivered.
[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 water service.[1] Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes will be added
to all charges.[2]
A.
Collection charge. If the customer does not pay for water service within the time specified by the bill, the County shall charge an amount as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, for each month the bill is unpaid.
B.
Reconnection charge. Whenever service is discontinued
for nonpayment of charges, nonuse, or similar reasons, as described
in Rule No. 13, 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 reconnecting service.
C.
Returned check or bank draft charge. The County shall assess a charge as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, to the customer's account balance 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.
Meter testing charge. Upon request by the customer, the County shall make a test of the meter serving that customer. If the meter tests accurately or slow, the customer shall be charged an amount set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, for the removal, testing and reinstallation of the meter. If the meter test proves the meter is fast (in excess of 2% error), the customer shall be issued a credit to its bill for charges reflected by the incorrect reading for previous months as determined by the County Utility Administrator to have been affected by the faulty equipment.
[Amended 9-27-2011 by Ord. No. 235-2011]
This fire hydrant or other bulk service rate
applies to customers who purchase bulk water from the County. The
customer must apply for and receive permission prior to removing water
from a fire hydrant or other means approved by the County. The County
will issue a temporary meter and backflow device to attach to the
fire hydrant or tap. Applicable governmental gross receipts taxes
will be added to all charges.[1] If the County does not have a meter and backflow device
available, the customer may be required to provide a unit at the customer's
expense to be inspected, approved, and installed/uninstalled by the
County.
A.
Bulk service deposit. A refundable deposit as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, will be required for all temporary meters. The deposit shall be refunded less the amount of the final bill for water service.
B.
Backflow device fee. A nonrefundable backflow device fee as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits, shall be charged to each customer to support the costs of testing, inspection, and installation.
C.
Bulk service monthly user charge. The charge for fire hydrant or other bulk water service provided shall be the sum of fixed (F) and variable (V) as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits. If meter readings during three consecutive months describe no usage, the County shall remove the bulk service meter and backflow device. The customer's final bill will be subtracted from any deposit on hand and the balance of the deposit returned to the customer.
D.
Special services-additional fire protection. A customer
may request the placement of additional fire hydrants on a property
to provide required fire protection. If the placement of the additional
fire hydrants requires a line extension, the property owner will be
responsible for the costs of the line extension, including fire hydrants,
water line materials, design, installation, and inspection, and all
infrastructure and easements will be dedicated to the County in accordance
with Rule No. 24, Line Extension Policy, of the Water Rules and Regulations.[2] The County shall provide special services-additional fire protection, including producing water capacities for emergency use, operating, maintaining, and conducting yearly inspections of the infrastructure and hydrants to ensure functioning protection. The charge for this special service is as set forth in Chapter 179, Fees and Permits.
E.
Damage to County property. If the customer loses or
otherwise damages the meter or backflow device, the customer shall
be charged the actual costs to replace or repair the meter/backflow
device.
