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Sumner reduces months used to calculate residential sewer winter average from six to five
Summary
Ordinance No. 2933, adopted unanimously Aug. 18, changes how Sumner calculates residential sewer bills by using a five-month winter average instead of six, eliminating the May meter read; staff said the change was recommended by rate consultants and should be revenue neutral.
The Sumner City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2933 on Aug. 18 to amend Sumner Municipal Code 13.20.0.04 and change how residential sewer winter averages are calculated.
City Administrator Jeff Stephens explained that residential sewer bills are based on a winter-water consumption average, traditionally calculated using six months of meter reads. The ordinance reduces that average to five months by removing the May read. "This change was recommended by our rate study consultants and for some customers could result in a lower winter average, which would create a lower monthly bill," Stephens said.
Stephens said the calculation is performed on an individual, house-by-house basis and that the change had been incorporated into the city27s rate calculations so it should be revenue neutral. Council members asked no substantive questions and there was one public question about revenue impact; Stephens replied the change was accounted for in the city's rate study.
The ordinance passed on unanimous roll call. Implementation is administrative and applies to future bill calculations under the municipal code amendment.
