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City staff recommends phasing out seasonal customer shutoffs; lost revenue estimated about $40,000 a year
Summary
Staff recommended the city stop adding new seasonal utility shutoffs to prevent revenue leakage and preserve system capacity; staff estimated about $40,000 in annual lost readiness‑to‑serve revenue and suggested phasing out enrollments over six months.
City utilities staff told the council they recommend ending the informal seasonal shutoff practice that allows customers (commonly snowbirds) to pause service for up to six months without paying the city’s readiness‑to‑serve fee.
Assistant Director Jason Chandra said about 250 customers historically used the feature and that the current administrative burden and lost revenue total roughly $40,000 a year. He recommended not adding new seasonal shutoff customers after the next billing cycle and phasing out the program over six months to allow current participants to return or close accounts.
Chandra noted the city already charges a readiness‑to‑serve fee that covers fixed costs of the utility system and suggested that continuing to apply that fee even while a meter is paused — or changing shutoff/turn‑on fees — could preserve revenue and avoid shifting service costs to permanent residents.
Council members voiced concerns about homeowner safeguards (for example, preventing unauthorized re‑opening of a property’s water) and requested options that protect seasonal residents from damage while maintaining system revenue. Staff said automated meter alerts and a required homeowner shutoff at the property side can mitigate risk and that the city could revisit details during the next rate study.
No formal vote was taken; council consensus favored moving away from the informal policy while staff returns with operational options and customer‑notice language.
