April 1, 1999

Contact: (718/595-3601)

New York City Water Board Public Hearings

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT in accordance with Section 1045-j(3) of the Public Authorities Law, public hearings will be held on April 22, 23, 26 and 27, 1999, concerning proposed rates and charges to be effective July 1, 1999, for the use of, or services rendered or made available in New York City by the Water and Wastewater System of the City of New York (the "System") and concerning proposed billing and customer service policy changes to be incorporated into the New York City Water Board's Rate Schedule effective July 1, 1999. The hearings will be held as follows:

It is currently anticipated that there will be a change from currently effective water and wastewater rates for services provided during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1999:

1. Metered and unmetered water rates will increase by an amount not to exceed 4.0%
   
   
2. The wastewater rate will remain at 159% of the corresponding water charge which is payable on each account.
   
   
3. With respect to water sales to municipalities and water districts north of the City, the regulated rate will be increased to approximately $385.13 per million gallons effective July 1, 1999, and the rate for amounts in excess of allowance quantities will be equal to the in-city metered rate of approximately $1,737.97 per million gallons.

It is also contemplated that certain billing and customer service policies will be changed, including the following:

1. All Water Board Discretionary Billing Programs: uniform requirement of applying within 18 months of the bill; premises in violation of Certificate of Occupancy not eligible for discretionary programs; refunds related to credits arising from Water Board billing programs not to be made where credit will be used within one-year.
   
   
2. Extend Waiver of Interest Period: from current 6 months up to a maximum of 18 months for bills meeting certain conditions and covering an extended period of time.
   
   
3. Backbilling Limitation: modify definition of residential premises; expand 2- year coverage to include exempt properties; limit definition of upward adjustments to specifically exclude erroneously canceled charges.
   
   
4. Transition Programs: extend authorization for accounts to remain on flat-rate billing to June 30, 2000 and expand eligibility to premises with 6 or more residential units and eliminate need for variances.
   
   
5. Initial Meter Bill Cap: delete requirement that flat-rate conversion credit be considered in the determination of initial meter bill eligibility.
   
   
6. Leak Forgiveness: reduce benefit to half of the bill instead of the current 150% of prior ADC; change eligibility to once every 5 years instead of the current once every 18 months, except in the case of ownership changes.
   
   
7. Complaint Resolution: require that customer must register a complaint within 18 months of the bill; reinstate explicit three tiered complaint resolution by inserting an initial review at borough office or customer service call center prior to initial appeal to BCCS Deputy Commissioner.
   
   
8. Innocent Owner Provision: incorporate DEP policy into Board rules; provide relief to innocent owners where unbilled charges are discovered after property transfer, but charges were not posted to account at time of title search and a final reading was requested.
   
   
9. Rate Schedule: conform to Statutory Language to Make Explicit the Board's Authority to bill Con Edison for Steam Condensate Discharges to Sewer System.

All members of the public who wish to obtain copies of the Board's Information Booklet describing the rate proposal, and the proposed billing policy modifications, or who wish to testify at the hearing should contact Kevin Kunkle, New York City Water Board, 59-17 Junction Boulevard, 8th Floor, Corona, New York 11368, (718) 595-3601 not later than April 20, 1999. Oral testimony will be limited to five (5) minutes duration. A copy of any prepared or written statement may be submitted to the Water Board at the above address at least two days prior to the meeting.