May 29, 2003
Contact: (718/595-3601)
Water
Board: Water Rate Increase for Fiscal Year 2004
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 1045-j(9-a)
of the Public Authorities Law, that after public hearings were held on
April 22, 23 and 24, 2003, in accordance with the provisions of such law,
the New York City Water Board ( the ?Board?) has, at its meeting held
on May 5, 2003, adopted a resolution approving increases in water rates
to users of the Water Supply and Wastewater Systems of the City of New
York, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2003, and making certain
customer service and billing policy changes, as follows:
- There will be a change from currently effective water and wastewater
rates for services provided during the fiscal year commencing July 1,
2003.
- Effective July 1, 2003, the water rates for all in-City customers,
flat-rate and metered, will increase by 5.5%, subject to rounding
to the nearest whole penny. In particular, the metered rate will
increase from $1.44 to $1.52 per 100 cubic feet. The wastewater
rate will remain at 159% of the applicable water charge.
- The minimum charge for water service will be reduced from $0.22
per day to $0.20 per day.
- There will also be changes to certain billing policies and miscellaneous
fees and charges.
- The deadline for filing an application for the Multiple Family
Conservation Program, currently set forth as December 31, 2003,
will be extended by one year to December 31, 2004. In addition,
other billing programs due to expire on June 30, 2004 will also
be extended by one year.
- The standard sewer allowance for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
(Cooling Towers) will be reduced from 99% to 85%.
- Fees for miscellaneous sewer discharges (including dewatering)
will be restructured. All approved discharges will be charged the
greater of: a) $300, or b) if the discharge is introduced into a
sanitary or combined sewer and could flow to a treatment plant,
159% of the amount that would be imposed if the discharge originated
from system supplied water, or c) if the discharge is introduced
into a storm sewer or other facility such that it does not receive
treatment services, 38% of the amount that would be imposed if the
discharge originated from system supplied water.
- Selected Miscellaneous Fees for services will be increased as
follows:
- Tap installation fee will be increased from $115 to $250;
- Tap location fee will be increased from $150 to $375;
- Hydrant flow test fee will be increased from $150 to $250;
- Wet connection fees will be revised to reflect a flat rate
of $1,200 for labor and OTPS.
- Eligibility for Discretionary Billing Programs will be revised
by modifying Part VI of the Board?s Rate Schedule to require that
eligibility will be conditioned on a property?s account being paid
current or a valid payment agreement being executed.
- Requirements for Letters of Authorization will be revised to
require that the letter must state a specific end date or DEP will
deem it to expire one year from the date of notarization.
- The Board?s Back Billing Limitation Policy will be revised to:
- Provide that ?erroneously canceled? charges cannot be reinstated
after four years have elapsed since the cancellation or adjustment;
and,
- Iterate that backbilling limitations will not apply to specific
bills contained within a longer period for which a billing adjustment
is made provided that the total amount re-billed is less than
the total amount billed prior to the adjustment.
- The Board?s Innocent Purchaser Program will be revised to provide
that a purchaser will be protected against previously unbilled charges
if a special or final meter reading is requested and paid for at
least 30 days prior to the closing date of the property transfer,
provided that DEP is not denied access to the property.
Copies of the New York City Water Board Water and Wastewater Rate Schedule
are available for inspection by the public during regular business hours
at the offices of the New York City Water Board, 59-17 Junction Boulevard,
8th Floor, Flushing, New York 11373.
