Title
Communication from the Mayor relative to Shortened Water Meter Billing Cycles
To: Malden City Council
From: Mayor Gary Christenson
CC: Public Works Commissioners
Date: October 16, 2015
Re: Shortened Water Meter Reads
______________________________________________________________________
Currently, water meters are read on the 15th of each month which covers the prior 30 day period. For example, meters read on October 15th cover usage from September 16th through October 15th. The process of uploading the data, calculating bills and the preparation for mailing the information has the bills arriving to customers on or about December 1st. The end result is that 45 days have passed between when the meter is read to when the customer receives the actual bill.
One of the sections of a current bill serves to inform the customer of a potential water leak. These codes are generated when the meters sense an abnormal constant flow of water during various time periods. Shortening the time period between the reading and mailing will help to notify customers more quickly of leaks and therefore save customers cost overruns. At my recommendation and in consultation with the City Engineer and Treasurer Offices, the Public Works Commission voted on August 11th to shorten the billing window which will begin to address this problem.
In order to implement a shortened (30-day) read-to-billing cycle, it will be necessary for customers to receive a one-time bill containing 45 days of usage after which we would revert back to normal 30-day usage periods. Under the plan, rather than reading on the 15th of the month, meters would be read on the first of the month for the prior 30 days. However, the first bill would contain the extra 15 days usage. For example, assuming we moved forward with this change effective November 1st, a meter read on November 1st would include usage from September 16th to November 1st. These bills would then be mailed on or about December 1st. Going forward readings would occur on the 1st of the month for the prior 30 days and be mailed approximately 30 days after the meter reading. The actual implementation date will be later to account for pre-notification as discussed later in this memorandum.
In shortening the reading/billing cycle, customers will potentially realize a reduction in the added cost that occurs when leaks are detected 45 days later. We believe this will also result in the Public Works Commissioners spending less time hearing abatement requests from customers with excessive usage resulting from leaks.
As you know, water and sewer usage is billed by tiers, a schedule of which is included below. To avoid customers being bumped into a higher tier during the crossover, we will adjust the tiers on a one-time basis for the extended billing cycle which will prevent taxpayers from being negatively impacted by the implementation.
Customers will be notified of the one-time billing change through at least two inserts mailed with the monthly water and sewer bills starting two months before the 45-day billing takes place. Notification will also be published on the City website as well.
We are sensitive to concerns that may exist over these changes and ask that you forward your input and concerns to Mark Good prior to November 1st. In addition, if you would prefer, the members of the Public Works Commission, City Engineer Jack Russell and Treasurer Mark Good are available to meet with you to discuss this change prior to implementation. If there are no concerns expressed that call for further dialogue, we will look to move forward beginning with the monthly inserts prior to implementation and will be sure to keep you informed along the way.
Malden Water Tiered Water and Sewer Rates
1st Step 0 to 50 cubic feet $6.00
2nd Step 51 to 800 cubic feet $9.76
3rd Step 801-12,000 cubic feet $20.24
4th Step over 12,000 cubic feet $25.25
Proposed Tier Multiplier One-time Implementation Schedule
1st Step 0 to 75 cubic feet $6.00
2nd Step 76 to 1,200 cubic feet $9.76
3rd Step 1,201-18,000 cubic feet $20.24
4th Step over 18,000 cubic feet $25.25
cc: Public Works Commission
Mark Good, Treasurer
Jack Russell, City Engineer