May 23, 2006

Contact: (718/595-3601)

Water Board: Water Rate Increase for Fiscal Year 2007

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 1045-j (9) of the Public Authorities Law, that after public hearings were held on May 1, 2 and 3, 2006, in accordance with the provisions of such law, the New York City Water Board (the “Board”) has, at its meeting held on May 12, 2006, adopted a resolution approving increases in water rates to users of the Water Supply System of the City of New York, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2006, from those rates currently in effect, and making certain customer service and billing policy changes, as follows: 

I. There will be a change from currently effective water and wastewater rates for services provided during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2006.

1. Metered and unmetered water rates will increase by 9.4%. Wastewater charges will remain at 159% of water charges.
2. 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 increase by not more than 13% to approximately $700.00 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 of $2,419.79 per million gallons.

II. There will also be changes to certain billing policies and miscellaneous fees and charges.

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 will also be extended 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) – A valid LOA must contain a statement that the owner hereby rescinds any previously issued LOA.  In cases where an owner has authorized multiple representatives, DEP shall deem the latest dated LOA to be valid, superseding any earlier dated LOAs.
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

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, NY 11373.