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| ORDINANCES HOMEPAGE | CITY HOMEPAGE | SEARCH ORDINANCES |
| Water Rates and Charges 913.01 Water service rates. CROSS REFERENCES Water supply - See 3rd Class Sections 3501-3572 (53 P.S. Sections
38501-38572)
The Council of the City of Bethlehem hereby fixes and establishes the following rates governing the furnishing of water with respect to real estate situate both inside and outside the City of Bethlehem. (a) Meter Rates. The following schedules apply to all service other than fire protection. Schedule A APPLICATION This schedule applies to all residential customer service. CUSTOMER CHARGES All metered residential customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.
CONSUMPTION CHARGES In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rate: Rate Per For all usage monthly or quarterly $3.513
APPLICATION This schedule applies to all commercial customer service. CUSTOMER CHARGES All metered commercial customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service. Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge 5/8” $ 7.33 $ 21.99 3” $ 174.80 $ 524.40 CONSUMPTION CHARGES In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates: Rate Per For all usage monthly or quarterly $2.704
APPLICATION This schedule applies to all industrial customer service. CUSTOMER CHARGES All metered industrial customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service. Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge 5/8” $ 7.33 $ 21.99 3” $ 174.80 $ 524.40 CONSUMPTION CHARGES In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates: Rate Per For all usage monthly or quarterly $2.704
APPLICATION This schedule applies to all public customer service. CUSTOMER CHARGES All metered public customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service.
5/8” $ 7.33 $ 21.99 3” $ 174.80 $ 524.40 CONSUMPTION CHARGES In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates: Rate Per For all usage monthly or quarterly $2.704
APPLICATION This schedule applies to all sale of water to other water utilities or public authorities for resale. CUSTOMER CHARGES All metered sales for resale customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service. Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge 5/8” $ 7.33 $ 21.99 3” $ 174.80 $ 524.40 Lower Saucon Honor System $ 1098.37 $ 3295.11 CONSUMPTION CHARGES In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates:
For all usage monthly or quarterly $3.513
APPLICATION This schedule applies to all sale of untreated water for non-potable use only. CUSTOMER CHARGES All metered untreated water service customers shall pay the following customer charge based on the required size of meter to render adequate service. Size of Customer Charge Size of Customer Charge 5/8” $ 7.33 $ 21.99 3” $ 174.80 $ 524.40 CONSUMPTION CHARGES In addition to the customer charge all water consumption will be billed at the following rates: Rate Per For all usage monthly or quarterly $1.682
For each private fire line that supplies water service to a standby system for fire protection, the following quarterly/monthly charge is made according to the size of the area protected and the size of the fire line servicing the facility. Fire Line Per Quarter Per Month Less than 6” (including Siamese $107.25 $35.75 In addition to the above fire line charge, a quarterly/monthly charge is made at $2.67 ($0.89 per month) per thousand square feet of protected area. (c) Private Fire Hydrant For each private fire hydrant, the following quarterly/monthly charge is made: Per Quarter Per Month
For each public fire hydrant, the following quarterly/monthly charge is made: Per Quarter Per Month (e) The out-of-city rates contained herein shall be effective subject to the established date by and the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission which date is May 30, 2008; and, in-city rates shall take effect on the effective date above. (Ord. 2008-20. Passed 7/1/08.) 913.02 SCHEDULING OF BILLS FOR ALL WATER SERVICE CUSTOMERS Billing for all properties serviced by a five-eighth (5/8”) inch, three-quarter (3/4”) inch or one (1”) inch meter shall be on a quarterly basis, and all other bills for water service through a meter shall be on a monthly basis. All customers will be given the option of being billed monthly. 913.03 PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT OF BILLS (a) Residential and Non-Residential Accounts All customer water meter bills for residential and non-residential accounts shall be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. The interest charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only and shall not be charged against any sum that falls due during a current billing period. (b) Private Fire Protection Service All customer bills for residential and non-residential accounts shall be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. The interest charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only and shall not be charged against any sum that falls due during a current billing period. (c) Private Fire Hydrants All customer bills for residential and non-residential accounts shall be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. The interest charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only and shall not be charged against any sum that falls due during a current billing period. (d) Public Fire Hydrants – Out-of-City All public fire hydrant bills will be subject to a penalty of one and one-half (1.50%) percent interest per month on the full unpaid and overdue balance of the bill if not paid within twenty (20) calendar days from the date the bill is mailed. 913.04 COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT BILLS (a) In-City Customer – Delinquent accounts placed for collection shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 913.03 together with costs of collection and reasonable attorney’s fees. (b) Out-of-City Customers – It shall be the duty of the Bureau of Law, when requested by the Department of Water and Sewer Resources, to take such action as may be authorized by law or ordinance for the collection of delinquent bills, including any court costs deemed appropriate by a court of jurisdiction. 913.05 CHARGES FOR DISCONTINUING AND RESTORING OF WATER SERVICE FOR IN-CITY AND OUT-OF-CITY USERS (a) The fee for shut-off and turn-on of service at the curb stop shall be $35.00. (b) See Article 911. 913.06 ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR DISCONTINUING AND RESTORING OF WATER SERVICE FOR OUT-OF-CITY USERS (a) A charge of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per premises shall be made whenever a municipality which is serviced by the City water system requests the City to shut off water service from any premises within the municipality for nonpayment of sewer charges. (b) See Article 911. 913.07 RETURNED CHECK CHARGE A charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) will be assessed anytime where a check which has been presented to the City for payment on account has been returned by the payor bank for any reason. 913.08 METER TEST RATES (a) The fee schedule for testing of meters shall be as follows: One and one quarter (1-1/4”) inch – two (2”) inch $40.00 Fees for testing meters over two (2”) inches or for testing meters so located that testing costs are disproportionate to the stated fees shall be established by the City based upon the actual cost of the test. (b) See Article 911. (Ord. 3026. Passed 10/15/85; Ord. 4073. Passed 5/16/01; Ord. 4363. Passed 12/20/05.) 913.09 CONSTRUCTION RATES (a) Building Water Charge (1) Out-of-City. If water is required for building purposes, a charge shall be made at the time application is made for water service. This charge will be one quarterly customer charge based on the size of the City service line servicing the facility. (2) In City. For in-City construction the above charge shall be levied at the time of building permit application. (3) Restriction. Water for building purposes will be used only for actual construction of the building and shall not be used to facilitate landscaping or other purposes. 913.10 RIDER DIS - DEMAND-BASED INDUSTRIAL SERVICE Throughout the water service territory served. (b) AVAILABILITY. This rider is available to a customer that: (1) purchases water from the City for industrial purposes; (2) enters into a Service Agreement for a term of not less than 10 years; (3) during the original and any renewal terms of the Service Agreement, agrees to purchase an average of 10 million gallons of water per month at a daily load factor of not less than 0.67; and (4) has a viable competitive alternative to service from the City and intends to select that alternative to the detriment of the City and its other customers. The City shall require documentation to establish, to the City’s satisfaction, the existence of a competitive alternative. Such documentation may include, but is not limited to, an affidavit of the customer or, if the customer is a corporation, an affidavit of one or more of its officers. (c) RATE. The rate(s) to be charged qualifying customers under this rider will be as set forth in the Service Agreement, provided, however, that such rate(s): (1) shall not exceed the Maximum Rate; (2) shall not be less than the Minimum Rate; and (3) shall be subject to an Escalation Clause, as hereafter defined. (d) MAXIMUM RATE. The Maximum Rate shall be the charges specified in the City’s Rate Schedule that would otherwise apply to the qualifying customer absent this rider. (e) MINIMUM RATE. The Minimum Rate shall be sufficient to recover: (1) the Production Cost of Water; (2) the fixed costs (depreciation and pre-tax return) associated with all new facilities added to serve the customer; and (3) some portion of the fixed costs of the City’s other facilities. For purposes of this rider, the Production Cost of Water shall be the variable cost the City incurs to produce additional treated water, which consists of expenses for electric power, chemicals and purchased water. (f) ESCALATION CLAUSE. The rate set forth in the Service Agreement shall be subject to an Escalation Clause, during the original and any renewal terms of the Service Agreement, based upon changes in published price indices and/or changes in the City’s cost of service, as the City and the qualifying customer shall agree. (g) FILING WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION/ CONFIDENTIALITY FOR OUTSIDE-CITY CUSTOMERS. Service Agreements entered into between the City and qualifying customers under this rider shall be filed with the Commission on a confidential basis within five (5) days of their execution and shall not be subject to disclosure except by Petition made to and granted by the Commission pursuant to 52 Pa. Code §1.74. The City shall provide copies of such Service Agreements to the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (“OCA”) contemporaneously with their filing with the Commission, subject to the OCA’s execution of a Confidentiality Agreement. 913.11 RIDER DRS - DEMAND-BASED RESALE SERVICE Throughout the water service territory served. (b) AVAILABILITY. This rider is available to a customer that: (1) purchases water from the City for resale; (2) enters into a Service Agreement for a term of not less than 15 years; (3) during the original and any renewal terms of the Service Agreement, agrees to purchase an average of 21 million gallons of water per month and maintain a daily load factor of not less than 0.67; and (4) has a viable competitive alternative to service from the City and intends to select that alternative to the detriment of the City and its other customers. The City shall require documentation to establish, to the City’s satisfaction, the existence of a competitive alternative. Such documentation may include, but is not limited to, an affidavit of the customer or, if the customer is a corporation, an affidavit of one or more of its officers. (c) RATE. The rate(s) to be charged qualifying customers under this rider will be as set forth in the Service Agreement, provided, however, that such rate(s): (1) shall not exceed the Maximum Rate; (2) shall not be less than the Minimum Rate; and (3) shall be subject to an Escalation Clause, as hereafter defined. (d) MAXIMUM RATE. The Maximum Rate shall be the charges specified in the City’s Rate Schedule that would otherwise apply to the qualifying customer absent this rider. (e) MINIMUM RATE. The Minimum Rate shall be sufficient to recover: (1) the Production Cost of Water; (2) the fixed costs (depreciation and pre-tax return) associated with all new facilities added to serve the customer; and (3) some portion of the fixed costs of the City’s other facilities. For purposes of this rider, the Production Cost of Water shall be the variable cost the City incurs to produce additional treated water, which consists of expenses for electric power, chemicals and purchased water. (f) ESCALATION CLAUSE. The rate set forth in the Service Agreement shall be subject to an Escalation Clause, during the original and any renewal terms of the Service Agreement, based upon changes in published price indices and/or changes in the City’s cost of service, as the City and the qualifying customer shall agree. (g) FILING WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION/ CONFIDENTIALITY FOR OUTSIDE-CITY CUSTOMERS. Service Agreements entered into between the City and qualifying customers under this rider shall be filed with the Commission on a confidential basis within five (5) days of their execution and shall not be subject to disclosure except by Petition made to and granted by the Commission pursuant to 52 Pa. Code §1.74. The City shall provide copies of such Service Agreements to the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (“OCA”) contemporaneously with their filing with the Commission, subject to the OCA’s execution of a Confidentiality Agreement. (Ord. 3026. Passed 10/15/85; Ord. 4073. Passed 5/16/01; Ord. 4363.
Passed 12/20/05; Ord. 2008-20. Passed 7/1/08.)
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| These ordinances are occasionally revised or changed by City Council at official and open public meetings. Every effort is made to keep this website up to date. However, there may be a short period of time between City Council changing an ordinance and the revised ordinance being posted on this site. If you have any questions about the status of a particular ordinance, please call the City Clerk's office at (610) 865-7130. |
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