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North Haven board approves reduced minimum usage, 15% water increase and $100 seasonal hookup fee
Summary
On March 19 the North Haven Select Board voted to reduce the quarterly minimum for water and sewer billing from 1,200 to 900 cubic feet, pursue a 15% water-rate increase targeted for July, and add $100 hookup and $100 disconnect charges for seasonal meters; the board directed staff to publish notices and hold a public hearing before implementation.
The North Haven Select Board voted March 19 to lower the minimum quarterly water and sewer billing volume from 1,200 cubic feet to 900 cubic feet and to pursue a 15% increase in water rates, with implementation targeted for the July billing cycle. The board also approved a $100 hookup fee and a $100 disconnect fee for seasonal water meters.
The measures were presented by Anisa, the town’s consultant on utility rates. Anisa told the board that reducing the minimum to 900 cubic feet would “raise about $8,900” annually for sewer operations and that the change is commonly used by small communities to increase revenue without a large across‑the‑board hike. She said the town would notify customers in writing and schedule a public hearing before the change takes effect.
Town Administrator Rebecca and town staff framed the water increase as part of a two‑part approach: the minimum reduction now plus a rate-case filing with the Public Utilities Commission for the water increase. Staff said the 15% water increase was estimated to generate roughly $50,000–$54,000 a year and to allow the town to begin setting aside funds for depreciation and capital improvements to aging systems. The board discussed timing and PUC filing requirements and instructed staff to prepare the necessary paperwork.
Board members debated equity and practical impacts. Several members raised concerns that lowering the minimum could disproportionately affect larger households and some commercial users, and asked staff to include clear examples in the customer notice. The consultant and board agreed the change would affect seasonals differently (seasonal customers pay a doubled minimum by design) and that any customer‑education materials should explain how seasonal volumetrics and overage charges work.
Finance implications and alternative revenue options were discussed. Staff estimated that instituting a $100 hookup and $100 disconnect fee for seasonal meters could generate substantial revenue if broadly adopted; staff gave a high‑level scenario in which $100 turn‑on/turn‑off fees for a large number of seasonal connections could generate significant gross receipts (the consultant described a hypothetical gross figure and noted an allowance for plumber reimbursements). The board asked that those fee proposals be included in the public notice and hearing materials.
The board approved the package by voice vote, with the motion directing staff to prepare and publish the required customer notices, schedule a public hearing, and proceed with necessary PUC filings for the water rate change. The town will publish exact implementation dates and sample bills ahead of any rate change.
Next steps: staff will draft the customer notice and public‑hearing materials, submit the water filing to the PUC (as required), and schedule the public hearing; the board indicated a preference to target the July billing cycle for implementation but will confirm after the formal PUC process and public comment.
