(A) Rules and regulations. Rules and regulations for the government of water utilities, adopted by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, and now in effect, and all amendments thereto and modifications thereof hereafter made by said Commission; and
(B) Step 2 rates (effective July 1, 2018).
(1) Applicability. Applicable within the entire territory served.
(2) Availability. Available for residential, commercial, industrial and sale for resale water service.
(3) Rates (customers with metered water supply). $19.65 per 1,000 gallons.
(4) Minimum charge (two months). Each customer shall pay a minimum charge of $78.60 per two months (equivalent to 4,000 gallons of water usage).
5/8-inch meter | $78.60 per 2 months |
3/4-inch meter | $117.90 per 2 months |
1-inch meter | $196.50 per 2 months |
1-1/4-inch meter | $286.89 per 2 months |
1-1/2-inch meter | $393 per 2 months |
2-inch meter | $628.80 per 2 months |
3-inch meter | $1,179 per 2 months |
4-inch meter | $1,965 per 2 months |
6-inch meter | $3,930 per 2 months |
8-inch meter | $6,288 per 2 months |
(5) Flat-rate charge (customers with non-metered water supply). Equivalent to 4,000 gallons of water usage $ 78.60 per two months.
(6) Bulk water rate. For purchased in bulk at the water plant or other town designated location for bulk sales.
1 to 500 gallons | $10 per load |
500 to 1,000 gallons | $20 per load |
1,000 to 1,500 gallons | $30 per load |
1,500 to 2,000 gallons | $40 per load |
Over 2,000 gallons | $10 per 1,000 gallons (min. of $40) |
(7) Delayed payment penalty. The above schedule is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, 10% will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
(8) Multiple occupancy. On apartment buildings or other multiple occupancy buildings, each family or business unit shall be required to pay not less than the minimum monthly charge herein established for a five-eighths inch meter. Motels and hotels shall pay according to the size of meter installed.
(9) Service connection charge.
(a) The following charges are to be made whenever the utility installs a new tap to serve an applicant.
(b) A tap fee of $100 will be charged to new customers applying for service before construction is completed adjacent to the customer’s premises in connection with a certificate proceeding before the Commission. This pre-construction tap fee will be invalid after the completion of construction adjacent to the applicant’s premises that is associated with a certificate proceeding.
(c) A tap fee of $500, or the actual cost of the connection (solely determined by the Utility), whichever is greater, shall be made for each new connection to the water system.
(10) Fee for installation of removed meter. If a water meter is removed to prevent a customer from illegally obtaining water after the customer’s service has been disconnected for nonpayment, the customer shall pay a minimum meter installation fee of $125 plus additional charges to replace and repair damaged equipment belonging to the Utility, before the meter is re-installed and water service reinstated. This fee is in addition to any reconnection fees. If the service has been cut off by the request of the renter vacating a renter dwelling, this charge will be made to the owner of the building.
(11) Returned check charge. A service charge of $25 will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by the bank for any reason.
(12) Water disconnect/reconnect fees/administrative fees.
(a) Water service will not be restored until all past due water bills have been paid in full and all accrued penalties plus a disconnection charge of $25 have been paid.
(b) There shall be a $25 reconnection charge paid prior to restoration of water service which has been previously disconnected for any reason.
(c) In the event that Utility staff or agents collect money at the customer’s residence in order to stop disconnection, an administrative fee of $25 shall be paid in addition to other charges to prevent disconnection.
(d) Reconnection after hours (Monday through Friday after 4:00 p.m. and anytime on holidays and weekends) an additional $25 fee shall apply.
(13) Incremental costs. An amount not to exceed $5 per 1,000 gallons is to be used when a bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on the customer’s side of the meter. This rate shall be used to calculate consumption above the customer’s historical average usage. The Utility shall establish a non-discriminatory policy regarding this provision for leak adjustments.
(14) EFT, ACH, credit card and drop box payments. A service charge will be imposed on EFT, ACH, credit card or drop box payments. The amount shall be equal to the actual charges to the Utility from the financial institution for processing payment.
(15) Security deposit.
(a) As of the date of passage, the applicable provision of W. Va. Code § 8-19-12a(a)(2):
“The municipality or governing body, but only one of them, may collect from all new applicants for service a deposit of $50 or two-twelfths of the average annual usage of the applicant’s specific customer class, whichever is greater, to secure the payment of water service rates, fees and charges in the event they become delinquent as provided in this section. In any case where a deposit is forfeited to pay service rates, fees and charges which were delinquent and the user’s service is disconnected or terminated, no reconnection or reinstatement of service may be made by the municipality or governing body until another deposit equal to $50 or a sum of the two-twelfths of the average usage for the applicant’s specific customer class, whichever is greater, is remitted to the municipality or governing body. After twelve months of prompt payment history, the municipality or governing body shall return the deposit to the customer or credit the customer’s account with interest at a rate as the Public Service Commission may prescribe; provided, that where the customer is a tenant, the municipality or governing body is not required to return the deposit until the time the tenant discontinues service with the municipality or governing body. Whenever any rates, fees, rentals or charges remain unpaid for a period of twenty days after the same become due and payable, the user of the services and facilities provided is delinquent and the user is liable at law until all rates fees and charges are fully paid. The municipality or governing body may, under reasonable rules promulgated by the Public Service Commission, shut off and discontinue water services to a delinquent user of water facilities ten days after the water services become delinquent regardless of whether the municipality or governing body utilizes the security deposit to satisfy any delinquent payments; provided further, that nothing contained within the rules of the Public Service Commission shall be deemed to require any agents or employees of the municipality or governing body to accept payment at the customer’s premises in lieu of discontinuing service for a delinquent bill.”
(b) 1. As of the date of passage, the applicable provision of W. Va. C.S.R. § 150-7-6.2.1.a.:
“For a municipal water system only, the deposit shall not be more than either $50 or two-twelfths of the average annual usage of the applicant’s specific customer class, whichever is greater.”
2. This tariff, in accordance with the above cited statutory language and PSC Water Rules, produces a security deposit of $157.20 (based on 4,000 gpm x two months) for residential customers. All other classes of customers will have their required deposit calculated in accordance with the above language in regards to average usage.
(16) Bill reprint fee. A charge of $1 will be assessed to customers who do not present the bar coded section of the bill provided by the Utility with payment. This does not apply to payments processed by the Town as part of an electronic funds transfer initiated by the town.
(17) Emergency, customer convenience or seasonal turn on or off. There shall be a $25 charge for each visit to the customer’s premises during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.) for such on or off, except that if the service is both turned off and on within the same eight hour work day, only one $25 fee shall apply. Reconnection after hours (Monday through Friday after 4:30 p.m., anytime on holidays and weekends), shall be subject to an additional $15 fee.
(18) Testing or replacement of meter at customer’s request. Upon request of any customer of the system, the town will test or replace the customer’s water meter as soon as is reasonably possible for a fee of $25 due in advance, and if the meter is found to be defective, the customer’s account will be adjusted accordingly, and the fee refunded. If the meter is found to be accurate within the prescribed guidelines of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, then the customer’s account will receive no adjustment.
(19) Sprinkler systems and private fire protection systems. Where connections, hydrants, sprinklers and the like on private property are maintained by the consumer:
2-inch or less service line with hydrants, sprinklers and/or hose connections | $30 per 2 months |
3-inch or less service line with hydrants, sprinklers and/or hose connections | $64 per 2 months |
4-inch or less service line with hydrants, sprinklers and/or hose connections | $120 per 2 months |
6-inch or less service line with hydrants, sprinklers and/or hose connections | $250 per 2 months |
8-inch or less service line with hydrants, sprinklers and/or hose connections | $480 per 2 months |
10-inch or less service line with hydrants, sprinklers and/or hose connections | $720 per 2 months |
(Ord. passed 9-9-1981; Ord. passed 11-9-1981; Ord. passed 2-1-1982; Ord. passed 6-26-1989; Ord. passed 8-4-1990; Ord. passed 9-17-1996; Ord. passed 1-20-1998; Ord. passed 10-4-2010; Ord. passed 9-25-2017)