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Trustees amend sewer‑rate averaging, set emergency clause to take effect in June
Summary
The Del City municipal authority adopted an amended sewer‑rate resolution to calculate volumetric sewer charges using 80% of average monthly consumption based on January–February and authorized an emergency clause so the change applies to billing that covers May usage.
Del City trustees on May 18 approved an amended sewer‑rate resolution that sets sewer volumetric charges at 80% of average monthly water consumption using a January–February averaging window and included an emergency clause to make the change effective for May usage billed in June.
Staff told the board that the earlier implementation produced unexpected high bills because the policy language and billing timing produced a volumetric charge that fluctuated with monthly water use. The city manager explained to trustees that the new wording would fix a base included volume (2,000 gallons) and compute the charge above that base as 80% of the average monthly consumption for the chosen months.
Trustees debated which months to use for averaging. Several members favored returning to the historical practice (November–January) but ultimately supported the amendment to use January–February averages to reduce exposure to holiday and pool‑filling spikes and to avoid months with irregular billing cycles. A trustee also proposed language clarifying the calculation with a worked example; trustees adopted the manager’s recommended approach with the council member’s clarified wording.
The board also approved an emergency clause so the changes would apply to the billing cycle that captures May usage (bills printed in June) so customers would see corrected averaging on the next bill cycle rather than a later retroactive adjustment. Trustees recorded the vote in favor of the resolution and separately approved the emergency clause.
Why it matters: The change alters how sewer charges are calculated for thousands of accounts in Del City, potentially lowering bills for customers who irrigate or fill pools in warmer months because the averaging window excludes those higher months. Staff indicated they can individually correct accounts that experienced exceptional leaks or other anomalies.
What’s next: Staff will update billing records to implement the new averaging method, make the calculation retroactive to the May usage billing cycle (print date June), and communicate the change to customers with notice about appeal and adjustment procedures.
