Clallam PUD developing water conservation rates for businesses

2005-06-07
by BRIAN GAWLEY
Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES -- A revised conservation water rate proposal that includes businesses as well as residences was presented Monday afternoon to Clallam County Public Utility District's commissioners.

It also includes larger blocks of water usage than a previous proposal before the escalating rates take effect.

Assistant General Manager Shelley Burgett said Clallam PUD staff would begin developing specific rates based upon those guidelines.

If approved, the new ``conservation water rates'' will take effect Aug. 1, she said.

PUD Commissioner Will Purser said the district should check with businesses during the next few weeks to get their comments on the proposal.

Conservation-based rates charge more beyond a certain monthly amount of water, encouraging people to use less.

The proposed business conservation rates would charge the regular commercial rate, including an impending 5 percent rate increase, on the first 5,000 cubic feet of water.

Then usage from 5,001 cubic feet to 10,000 cubic feet would be billed at a 5 percent higher rate than the previous block.

Usage from 10,001 cubic feet to 15,000 cubic feet would be billed at 10 percent higher rate than the previous block.

Usage beyond 15,000 cubic feet would be billed at 15 percent higher than the previous block.