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Tenino council denies resident’s request for water-bill credit, cites meter responsibility
Summary
A resident’s request for a credit after high winter water bills tied to a leak was denied; council reiterated city policy that the meter demarcation determines responsibility and historically refunds are rarely granted when leaks are on homeowner side.
The Tenino City Council on June 24 voted to deny a request from resident Bob Shaw to relieve part of a high water bill resulting from a leak. The council considered the facts presented — that the resident’s bills were higher in January–March, that a plumber later checked the property, and that May bills returned to expected levels — and discussed city policy that the water meter is the demarcation of responsibility.
During the work-session discussion a councilor summarized the policy: "If the leak is on our side of the meter, it's our responsibility. If it's on the homeowner side, the homeowner pays." Several council members said the historical practice has been to deny credit when leaks are on the homeowner side of the meter unless extraordinary circumstances are shown.
When the request returned to the regular meeting the chair asked for a motion; a council member moved to deny the request, it was seconded, and the council voted in favor of denying the credit request. The chair noted the city’s longstanding practice that customers pay for leaks occurring on their side of the meter.
What’s next: The resident may re-present evidence if he can show the leak originated on the city side; otherwise the council’s decision stands under current policy.
