April 7, 2006

Contact: (718/595-3601)

Public Hearings on Proposed Rates and Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT in accordance with Section 1045-j (3) of the Public Authorities Law, public hearings will be held on May 1, 2 and 3, 2006, concerning proposed rates and charges to be effective July 1, 2006, for the use of, or services furnished, rendered or made available by the Water and Wastewater System of the City of New York (the “System”) and concerning changes to certain billing policies and miscellaneous fees and charges to be incorporated into the New York City Water Board’s Rate Schedule effective July 1, 2006.  The hearings will be held as follows:

1. It is anticipated that there will be a change from currently effective water rates and wastewater charges for services provided during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2006.
   
   1. Metered and unmetered water rates will increase by 9.4%.
   2. Wastewater charges will remain at 159% of water charges.
   3. The regulated rate for water provided to municipalities and water districts outside of the City which does not exceed the allowance quantities set forth in Section 24-360 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York will be increased, subject to a separate public notice and hearings to be conducted in June 2006, to an amount currently anticipated to be $660.48 per million gallons, and the rate charged for water provided to municipalities and water districts outside of the City which exceeds the allowance quantities of water set forth in Section 24-360 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York will be equal to the in-City metered rate, currently anticipated to be $2,419.79 per million gallons.
      
      
2. It is also anticipated that changes to certain billing policies and miscellaneous fees and charges will be considered.
   
   1. Multiple Family Conservation Program (MCP) - The deadline for filing an application for the MCP, currently set forth as December 31, 2006, will be extended by two years to December 31, 2008. Other billing programs due to expire June 30, 2007 in connection with the MCP also will be extended by two years to June 30, 2009.
   2. Miscellaneous Fees for Wastewater Service – The current fee of $200 imposed when, at the request of a customer, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) performs a dye test to determine the existence of a connection to the wastewater system will be extended to include any engineering field investigation performed in lieu of a dye test which determines the availability and/or condition of a wastewater connection.
   3. Letter of Authorization (LOA) – The maximum valid term of an LOA will be limited to one year.  In addition, if a valid LOA is on file with DEP, a new LOA designating a different representative will not be accepted until the property owner withdraws in writing the previously filed LOA.
   4. Existing Water Board and DEP policies and procedures will be iterated in the Rate Schedule in the interest of providing a more complete source of information to the Board’s customers including the following:
      1. DEP’s responsibility for the maintenance and repair of water meters used for billing purposes does not extend to the building’s plumbing system, including but not limited to service lines, control valves, check valves, and internal piping which are the responsibility of the property owner.  Accordingly, owners are responsible for ensuring that the building’s plumbing system is in an adequate state of repair so as to enable DEP to repair, upgrade or replace the meter.
      2. Currently, DEP may assess a fee when a water meter requires repair or replacement due to the customer’s vandalism or other actions.  The term “other actions” will be replaced with the more specific term “failure to reasonably protect the meter or components.

All members of the public who wish to obtain copies of the Board’s Information Booklet describing the rate proposal, and changes to billing policies and miscellaneous fees and charges, or who wish to testify at a hearing should contact Kevin Kunkle, New York City Water Board, 59-17 Junction Boulevard, 8th Floor, Flushing, NY 11373, Telephone (718) 595-3601 not later than April 27, 2006.  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.