Richmond DPU outlines consent order deadlines, capital projects and customer billing changes

Director Scott Morris updated the Organizational Development Standing Committee on the water treatment plant consent order and Department of Public Utilities (DPU) enhancements, saying the consent order is effective June 28, 2025 and imposes a civil charge of $6,817.

The consent order “acknowledges all the corrective actions we've taken to date, which is about a 155 actions,” Morris said. He told the committee the order’s Appendix A lists requirements and that DPU must provide recurring progress reports, equipment and testing schedules, and a list of standard operating procedures submitted to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

The consent order and associated reporting schedule matter because they create mandatory deadlines for DPU. Morris said several deliverables are due within 120 days of the effective date, including a schedule for periodic testing and emergency backup systems; a capital improvement plan; an updated organizational chart; a water asset-management plan or equivalent; the approved budget and the most recent rate-model output; and a list of active water-related contracts. Morris said DPU has the capital improvement plan, the organizational chart and the budget in…