New water rates out

A new rate schedule is now in place for water consumers, as a result of the ongoing installation of “smart” meters.

This came after the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. adopted emergency regulations establishing different rate schedules for residential and commercial customers who receive metered or non-metered water service.

Rates for metered service start at $1 per 1,000 gallons, for the first 3,000 gallons of consumed water. The next 3,001 to 15,000 gallons will be assessed at $2.40 per 1,000 gallons.

A charge of $3 per 1,000 gallons will be collected for the next 15,001 to 30,000 gallons; while the subsequent 30,001 to 60,000 gallons will be charged $3.50 per 1,000 gallons.

Consumption exceeding 60,000 gallons will be charged $4 per 1,000 gallons.

Meanwhile, customers who do not receive metered water will be assessed only half as much as their metered counterparts.

Non-metered residential customers are deemed to consume 6,000 gallons per month and, therefore, will be assessed a flat rate of $7.20 per month. This represents a reduction from the current flat rate of $11.10 for water.

For their part, non-metered commercial customers are deemed to consume 18,000 gallons per month. They will be charged a flat monthly rate of $27, a slight increase from the current commercial rate of $26.40.

CUC’s emergency regulations also provide a monthly service charge for meters. The charges vary depending on meter size and range from $6 a month for a 5/8-inch meter, to $200 for a 12-inch meter.

Adopted on an emergency basis, the new CUC regulation took effect immediately upon the approval of the Attorney General’s Office and concurrence of the governor. The regulation will remain effective for 120 days, unless sooner adopted as permanent regulations.

According to CUC, the amendments to the current regulation had to be made “in order to allow for the substitution of metered service for flat rate service as new, ‘smart’ meters are installed.”

CUC noted that the shift to metered service would result in water conservation and promote fairness to customers. Meters would also protect public health by preventing water from feeding back into the water system from homes, businesses, and other premises. Furthermore, meters would allow CUC to detect and fix leaks immediately, and help CUC cut costs of meter reading as meters can be read remotely.

“None of these benefits can be realized unless and until the smart meters are used. The regulation changes allow for immediate use of smart meters. Thus, it is in the public interest to implement these regulations as emergency regulations effective immediately,” CUC said.

The CNMI Water Task Force began installing smart water meters on June 10, 2005.

Pursuant to the government’s contract with the contractor, World Electric & Construction Company Inc., all 4,000 smart meters should be installed within 125 days, or by Sept. 5, 2005.

Managed by SSFM International, the federally funded project costs $487,415.