(A) If a customer experiences a concealed water leak on the customer’s side of the water meter, the customer’s bill shall be computed as follows:
(1) The usage from the same month of the previous year (base amount); plus
(2) ½ of the extra amount of usage due to the leak.
Example: Customer used 100 units in May 2002 and experiences a leak in May 2003, which usage is 250 units. The customer pays 100 units plus 75 units for a total of 175 units.
(3) If the customer did not reside at the residence such that the methodology in division (2) above cannot be calculated, then the customer’s usage will be averaged for the months that he or she has had water service at that location to determine the base amount of his or her usage. The base amount shall be added to ½ the leak amount for a total consumption for which the customer shall be billed.
(B) The rate payer shall not be responsible for the accompanying sewer bill when it is readily ascertainable by the Town of Bainbridge, through its employees, that the water leak did not result in water going through the Town of Bainbridge sewer system. In that case, the rate payer shall not be required to pay the sewer bill for the portion of the leaked water. If the town employees believe that the water did go through the sanitary sewer system, or cannot prove otherwise, the rate payer shall be responsible for the companion sewer bill for the full amount of the water leak.
(C) This reduction in the amount of the current bill is available to customers only one time in a three-year period. Any exceptions to this rule must be submitted to the Utility Board for review at its next regularly scheduled board meeting.
(Res. 2003-7, passed 6-12-2003)