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Sevier County raises commercial water meter fees to cover installation costs
Summary
The commission approved an update to the Department of Water Services fee schedule to increase charges for larger commercial meters (one- and two-inch) after staff reported installation costs can run $7,200–$8,500 and the department has been losing money on those installations.
The Sevier County Commission on April 15 approved an update to the Department of Water Services fee schedule to raise charges for larger commercial water meters so the county does not subsidize the installations through residential rates.
Director Brent Shults told the commission the current cost to supply a two-inch commercial meter is typically recorded as $5,000 for the meter itself, but depending on whether the installation must cross the road the total project cost can range from about $7,200 to $8,500; the department averaged the commercial installation cost to roughly $8,000 to avoid losses. Two-inch meters are commonly used for fire-protection sprinkler systems, Shults said, and the department currently has no mechanism to recover installation losses from water sales.
The commission approved the fee-schedule update by roll call vote, 25-0. Commissioner Ronnie Whaley made the motion, and R. Ogle seconded. County staff said the change will apply to larger commercial meters and not to typical residential meters; implementation will be handled by the Department of Water Services once the updated schedule is published.
