Federally Funded - Accelerated Meter Program
Carmichael Water District has secured a Federal Meter Grant that will fund an acceleration of the District’s metering program. The District was awarded a federal grant in the amount of $550,000 to install additional meters on properties during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. This is an exciting opportunity for the District to continue to move forward with the planned meter installation program at an accelerated rate at NO EXPENSE TO THE DISTRICT RATEPAYERS. All work associated with the meter installation for this acceleration portion of the meter installation is paid for with the grant money.
In order to accelerate our program, the Board of Directors adopted a new resolution on June 21, 2010 amending the metering program. Staff and grant contractors are installing meters throughout the District at an accelerated rate. As of July 31, 2010 the District has 1,949 service connections remaining to be metered. By the end of the accelerated meter grant installations and the end of fiscal year 2010-2011, the District will have approximately 1,175 meter installations remaining. The new schedule for meter installation will likely move the scheduled meter program forward for completion of District wide metering by June 30, 2012.
When Will My Installation Take Place?
All remaining flat rate accounts are scheduled to have meters installed by June 30, 2012. As part of the meter installation program, a notice and information packet will be delivered to each customer’s property 48 hours prior to the installation. This information packet contains frequently asked questions regarding meter installation, conservation tips, and other helpful items to ease a customer’s transition to metered billing.
When Will Metered Billing Be Effective?
For all remaining flat rate accounts, the District provides comparison billing on the billing statements to allow customers the ability to see the difference between the flat rate they are paying and what they would have paid on a metered rate based on the meter reading. The comparison appears on the billing statement on the first billing after installation. So for some customers, it will be in the winter months but will continue through the summer months to allow customers comparisons between the low and high usage times and to have history for at least one year. All flat rate accounts will transition to metered rates twice per year (either July 1st or January 1st) after receiving one year of comparison on your billing statement.
Carmichael Water District continues to encourage and allow customers to accelerate their transition to metered rate on a voluntary basis through its Voluntary Accelerated Residential Meter Program.
For More Information
For additional information on meter installation, voluntary metered billing, or flat rate vs. metered rated please see these sections of the website under meters or contact the District office at (916) 483-2452.
Original Meter Program
Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a bill
(AB
2572) at the end of September 2004 that includes water
meter legislation which requires meter installation and metered
billing. With forethought and planning the Carmichael Water
District implementation plan is well under way.
In March 1997, CWD conducted a water rate structure study
to assist the District in revising its flat rates and to address
how metered water rates could be instituted in conjunction
with a meter implementation program. The water rate structure
committee (WRSC) included a mix of participants generally
reflective of the District’s customer base (i.e.: residential,
commercial, schools, parks, Board). The findings regarding
implementation of a metering program were unanimous support
of water metering for all District customers; equitable charges
for water service; and voluntary residential metering.
As recommended by the WRSC and outlined in the District’s
Master Plan, the District has taken a systematic approach
to District wide metering through phases:
| Phase 1 consisted of completion
of meter installation and transition to metered billing
for commercial, schools, parks and apartments and implementation
of the voluntary residential metering program. |
| Phase 2 includes the completion
of meter installation and transition to metered billing
for condominiums, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, mobile
homes and all new construction. |
| Phase 3 consists of residential
metering and billing of all parcels larger than 0.5 acres,
all connections larger than 1 inch, extra single family
homes and irrigation connections. Completion of Phase
3 will eliminate all flat rates with the exception of
single family 1 inch connections on less than 0.5 acres.
|
| Phase 4 includes systematic metering
through the District for the remaining residential connections
under 0.50 acres. |
