22nd ANNUAL VIRGINIA WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE SURVEY

Please submit this questionnaire by July 16, 2010.

INSTRUCTIONS: Please answer each question in the corresponding box to the right. Do not leave a blank. If the answer is “0” or not applicable please indicate by answering “0” or “N/A.” If you charge different rates in different service areas please complete a separate survey form for each area. If you need to explain an answer or wish to add comments please feel free to do so in the area marked “Additional Comments” which is provided at the end of the survey. Please use rates in effect as of July 1, 2010.

Thank you for your participation!

Contact Information:

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City:

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Who do we call if there are questions about the information provided?

Name:

Phone:

General Information:	Water	Sewer
1. How many residential units do you serve? (One residential unit equals a house or apartment, i.e., a 12-unit apartment building equals 12 units.)
2. How many non-residential units do you serve? (Non-residential units are commercial, industrial, educational, or institutional facilities. Includes churches, schools, government facilities, etc. One industrial connection equals one non-residential unit.)
Residential Billing Information: Questions 3 and 4 are intended to address the TOTAL bill paid by a residential customer using 5,000 gallons of water over a 1 month period. Include all water and sewer-related charges that are included on the customers’ bill such as account service fees, billing fees, debt service fees, rehab fees, etc. If you bill on a bi-monthly basis, please calculate the total bi-monthly bill for usage of 10,000 gallons (1,340 cubic feet) and divide by two. If you bill quarterly, please calculate the total bill for usage of 15,000 gallons (2,010 cubic feet) and divide by three.	Water	Sewer
3. If a residential customer uses 5,000 gallons (670 cubic feet) of water during a month, what is the monthly charge? (INSIDE municipal boundaries)
4. If a residential customer uses 5,000 gallons (670 cubic feet) of water during a month, what is the monthly charge? (OUTSIDE municipal boundaries)
5. How often do you bill your customers?
6. When was your last rate increase?
Business/Commercial/Industrial Billing Information: Questions 7 and 8 are intended to address the TOTAL bill paid by a commercial or industrial customer using 1 million gallons (134,000 cubic feet) of water over a 1-month period. Include all water and wastewater related charges that are included on the customers’ bill such as account service fees, billing fees, debt service fees, rehab fees, etc. If you bill on a bi-monthly basis, please calculate the total bi-monthly bill for usage of 2 million gallons (268,000 cubic feet) and divide by two. If you bill quarterly, please calculate the total bill for usage of 3 million gallons (402,000 cubic feet) and divide by three. If your utility does not have the capacity to provide 1 million gallons of water or wastewater service please enter N/A. Please base your answers on a 4” meter.	Water	Sewer
7. If a business/commercial/industrial customer uses 1 million gallons (134,000 cubic feet) of water per month, what is the monthly charge? (INSIDE municipal boundaries)
8. If a business/commercial/industrial customer uses 1 million gallons (134,000 cubic feet) of water per month, what is the monthly charge? (OUTSIDE municipal boundaries)

Connection Fees and Capital Recovery Charges
Utilities use many different terms for connection fees and capital recovery charges. Connection fees are charges for tapping into the water main and running a line to the water meter or for tapping into the sewer line and running a service line to the property line. Capital recovery charges are capital charges for buying into the existing system or charges that recognize the cost of adding capacity to the system. Most utilities charge connection fees and capital recovery charges, but the terms used to describe these types of charges vary quite a bit from one utility to another. Connection fees are also commonly called “tap fees” or “hook-up fees.” Capital recovery charges are sometimes called “facility charges,” “facility fees,” “capacity charges,” “availability charges” or “system development charges.” Based on the descriptions above, please provide your connection fees and capital recovery charges for a residential connection. Assume the customer requires a 5/8” or 3/4” meter.
Connection Fees	We do not charge a connection fee
What is your residential connection fee? Water: Wastewater:	Last connection fee increase was Water: Wastewater:
Capital Recovery Charges	We do not charge a capital recovery charge.
What is your residential capital recovery charge? Water: Wastewater:	Last capital recovery charge increase was Water: Wastewater:

Demand Management and Conservation Efforts
Demand Management: This section focuses on identifying practices employed by utilities to reduce water demands on an ongoing basis. Please select each strategy listed below that is practiced by your utility or local government:
Leak detection and repair program	Compare water production and billed water records on a regular basis
Meter replacement program	Building Code limits the maximum flow of toilets and other fixtures
Rate structure discourages excessive use of water	Use of potable water for irrigation is discouraged or prohibited
Utility is not actively involved in demand management
Your utility encourages consumers to conserve as follows:
Encourage low-water use landscaping	Encourage the use of high efficiency appliances
Other (please describe)
If your utility is actively involved in demand management, which of the following has motivated your demand management activities? Please check all that apply.
limited supply	regulatory requirements
Other (please describe)
Conservation and Drought Management: This section focuses on identifying practices that utilities use to reduce water demands during times of drought (check all that apply). Locality/Utility has adopted a drought ordinance Locality/Utility has adopted a drought ordinance that is in compliance with VDEQ’s Water Supply Planning Regulation Seasonal rate structure discourages excessive use of water during summer months Public education information is available on website Literature encouraging water conservation is available from the utility or the local government Other (please describe): Utility is not actively involved in conservation or drought management

Additional Comments

If your rate schedule is available on line please indicate above where the web address can be found.