Montgomery County staff brief council on a package of WSSC governance, transparency and rates bills

Montgomery County staff briefed the County Council on a package of proposed bi-county bills that would change governance, transparency and rate-setting authority at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC).

The bills would: require WSSC to include long-range planning and debt-service scenarios in public materials; expand searchable public disclosures (bond-rating reports and stress tests); require WSSC representation on an Avonelle Farm coordinating committee; and authorize study and possible implementation of differential (nonuniform) water rates for customer classes. Staff said the county has coordinated closely with Delegate Corman and WSSC on the measures.

Staff noted one governance proposal would designate one of three WSSC commissioners as the Director of the Department of Environmental Protection (or a designee). The legislation would also require WSSC to review rate structures and study the feasibility of differential rates for different customer classes, reversing the current statutory requirement for a uniform statewide rate.

Monica Markina, WSSC's director of government affairs, told the council that litigation in recent years had affected prior tiered pricing structures and that the bill would give WSSC explicit state authority to develop customer classes and pursue differential rates if adopted by the General Assembly.

County staff and council members raised implementation and oversight questions, including what data and public reporting would be required, how appointment and coordination on Avonelle Farm would proceed, and whether WSSC would adopt differential rates or merely study them. Pete Fosselman, the county executive's representative on the coordinating committee, was identified as available to answer technical questions.

No votes were taken; staff said the county would continue discussions with delegates and WSSC and bring recommendations on positions at a later date.