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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 7318: WATER BILL LEAK ADJUSTMENT City of "° A „l l INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date: August 13, 2025 To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Through: Ronald Burton, CPM, City Manager From: Calvin Matthews, P.E., Water Utilities Director RE: Proposed Ordinance No. 7318—Water Bill Leak Adjustment Introduction: This proposed ordinance is intended to update the Water Billing and Leak Adjustment Procedure for residential and commercial in Sec. 110-98 and Sec. 110-99. The Water Utilities Department aims to streamline leak adjustment processes due to the high number of leaks and the time-consuming nature of customer repairs. The proposed ordinance would share financial responsibility between the customer and the city. The new ordinance requests that residential customers pay 40 percent of their total leak adjustment and commercial customers pay 50 percent. Currently,the city absorbs most of the cost of leaks for residential and commercial customers,with customers only paying$0.60 per unit of total consumption to be adjusted. Ex: 2,000 gal. x 0.60=$1.20(customer payment for water only) The above example shows the amount the customer would pay for water for their leak. The city would absorb the remaining cost for water and the entire balance for sewer. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Council approve Proposed Ordinance No. 7318, authorizing the updated procedure for the water billing adjustment, as described/outlined above. The updated discount language and application form will be posted on the City's website. http://www.portarthurtx.govi. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" PO No. 7318 8/13/2025 JL Page 1 of 3 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 110 (UTILITIES), ARTICLE II (WATER), DIVISION 3 (SERVICE CHARGES AND BILLING), SECTIONS 110-98 (PROCEDURES FOR WATER UTILITY BILLING ADJUSTMENTS) AND 110-99 (PROCEDURES FOR WATER UTILITY BILLING ADJUSTMENTS COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. WHEREAS, the City Council deems it in the public interest of the City to amend Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges and Billing), Sections 110-98 (Procedures for water utility billing adjustments.)and Sections 110-99(Procedures for water utility billing adjustments commercial accounts) of the Code of Ordinances. NOW THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. Chapter 110 (Utilities),Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges and Billing), Sections 110-98 (Procedures for water utility billing adjustments.) and Sections 110-99 (Procedures for water utility billing adjustments commercial accounts)of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, is hereby amended as delineated in Exhibit"A". Section 3. All Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. Section 4. That this being an Ordinance which requires publication, its caption shall be published at least one (1) time within ten (10) days after final passage hereof in the official newspaper of the City of Port Arthur. Section 5. That a copy of the caption of the Ordinance be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. PO No. 7318 8/13/2025 JL Page 2 of 3 READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of , A.D., 2025, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor: Councilmembers: • NOES: Charlotte M. Moses Mayor ATTEST: Sherri Bellard City Secretary PO No. 7318 8/13/2025 JL Page 3 of 3 APPROVED AS TO FORM: Roxann Pais Cotroneo City Attorney APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: AI t • Ronald urton, CPM Calvin Matthews, P.E. City Manager Director of Water Utilities EXHIBIT "A" REDLINED VERSION Sec. 110-98. - Procedures for water/sewer utility billing and leak adjustments for residential accounts. (a) No adjustments, including leak adjustments,will be made for any error in billing for water service, unless such error is called to the attention of the water and sewer department in writing, on forms prepared by said department for that purpose, within six months of the date of the billing claimed to be in error or if utility billing finds such error. (b) Leak Aadjustments shall only be made to non-eommefeial residential accounts, and shall be are made under the following circumstances and conditions: (1) Leaks documented by the customer must be reported within 90 days of the bill reflecting the leak. (2) The excessive water charge must be at 1ast-$4-00,00-ever--the-average-water--eharge for the prior six months, a the water charge for the same month of the prior year. The customer will be responsible for 40 percent of their total leak charge for water and sewer. For example, if a customer qualifies for a leak adjustment and their leak adjustment for water is $300.00, then the customer will be responsible for$120.00. This same example applies for sewer. (3) The billed consumption must be at least two times the customer's 6-month average usage. For example, if a customer's average is 2,000 gallons and the leak is 4,000 gallons, the city may adjust 2,000 gallons off your bill. (4) Each account may receive one adjustment within a 12-month period. No adjustments will be made for leaks past three months. (5) No adjustments will be made to fill a pool or to correct a pool system malfunction. (c) The adjustment amount will be limited to the amount charged for water, in excess of the average water charge over the past six months. .l f .,ll , .to o sto e o the meter t the cit 's st fo lost water, and related direct costs according to the water rate schedule. (- ) A dj t t f .,to n,1 0 e ill be li ted t„ o er- 1 2 1 ent-1 „a iil��l lv viler Y�l 1 iivllul�� (Ord. No. 06-108, § 2, 12-4-2006; Ord. No. 07-47, § 2, 7-31-2007; Ord. No. 16-38, § 2(Exh.A), 5-31-2016; Ord. No. 16-75, § 2(Exh.A), 12-27-2016) REDLINED VERSION Sec. 110-99.-Procedures for water/sewer utility billing and leak adjustments for commercial accounts. (a) No Aadjustments, including leak adjustments may will be made for any error in billing for water service, unless such error is called to the attention of the water and sewer department in writing, on forms prepared by said department for that purpose, within six months of the date of the billing claimed to be in error or if utility billing finds such error. to commercial accounts, only with the city manager's final approval, and under the following circumstances and conditions: (1-) In the event of leaks documented by the customer. (23 T + h b t be.t least$i 00 00 r the a a tea-'ge water charge f tt, r th a $i 00 00 „ er the . ,ater ch f the o rth f the prior year. (b) sehea th + ' st f r- l st w ate nd related ai c+ sts Leak adjustments shall be made to commercial accounts, and are made under the following circumstances: (1) Leaks documented by the customer must be reported within 90 days of the bill reflecting the leak. (2) The customer will be responsible for 50 percent of the leak total charge for water and sewer. For example, if a customer qualifies for a leak adjustment and their leak adjustment for water is $300.00, then the customer will be responsible for$150.00. The same applies for sewer. (3) The billed consumption must be at least two times the customer's 6-month average usage. For example, if a customer's average is 2,000 gallons and the leak is 4,000 gallons, the city may adjust 2,000 gallons off the bill. (4) Each account may only receive one adjustment within a 24-month period. No adjustments will be made for leaks past three months. (5) No adjustments will be made to fill a pool or to correct a pool system malfunction. (c) Adjustment for water and sewer will be limited to one per 12 month period. (Ord. No. 11-58, § 1, 10-18-2011; Ord. No. 16-38, § 2(Exh. A), 5-31-2016; Ord. No. 16-75, § 2(Exh.A), 12-27-2016) CLEAN VERSION Sec. 110-98. - Procedures for water/sewer utility billing and leak adjustments for residential accounts. (a) No adjustments,including leak adjustments,will be made for any error in billing for water service, unless such error is called to the attention of the water and sewer department in writing, on forms prepared by said department for that purpose, within six months of the date of the billing claimed to be in error or if utility billing finds such error. (b) Leak adjustments shall be made to residential accounts, and are made under the following circumstances and conditions: (1) Leaks documented by the customer must be reported within 90 days of the bill reflecting the leak. (2) The customer will be responsible for 40 percent of their total leak charge for water and sewer. For example, if a customer qualifies for a leak adjustment and their leak adjustment for water is$300.00,then the customer will be responsible for$120.00. This same example applies for sewer. (3) The billed consumption must be at least two times the customer's 6-month average usage. For example, if a customer's average is 2,000 gallons and the leak is 4,000 gallons,the city may adjust 2,000 gallons off your bill. (4) Each account may receive one adjustment within a 12-month period. No adjustments will be made for leaks past three months. (5) No adjustments will be made to fill a pool or to correct a pool system malfunction. (Ord. No. 06-108, § 2, 12-4-2006; Ord. No. 07-47, § 2, 7-31-2007; Ord. No. 16-38, § 2(Exh. A), 5-31-2016; Ord.No. 16-75, § 2(Exh.A), 12-27-2016) CLEAN VERSION Sec. 110-99.-Procedures for water/sewer utility billing and leak adjustments for commercial accounts. (a) No adjustments, including leak adjustments will be made for any error in billing for water service, unless such error is called to the attention of the water and sewer department in writing, on forms prepared by said department for that purpose, within six months of the date of the billing claimed to be in error or if utility billing finds such error (b) Leak adjustments shall be made to commercial accounts,and are made under the following circumstances: (1) Leaks documented by the customer must be reported within 90 days of the bill reflecting the leak. (2) The customer will be responsible for 50 percent of the leak total charge for water and sewer. For example,if a customer qualifies for a leak adjustment and their leak adjustment for water is$300.00,then the customer will be responsible for$150.00. The same applies for sewer. (3) The billed consumption must be at least two times the customer's 6-month average usage. For example, if a customer's average is 2,000 gallons and the leak is 4,000 gallons,the city may adjust 2,000 gallons off the bill. (4) Each account may only receive one adjustment within a 24-month period. No adjustments will be made for leaks past three months. (5) No adjustments will be made to fill a pool or to correct a pool system malfunction. (Ord. No. 11-58, § 1, 10-18-2011; Ord. No. 16-38, § 2(Exh. A), 5-31-2016; Ord. No. 16-75, § 2(E)th.A), 12-27-2016)