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Docket: UW18302
Order: UW11-01

IN THE MATTER of an application by the Georgetown Sewage Collection and Treatment Corporation for an increase of wastewater rates and charges.

BEFORE THE COMMISSION

on Friday, the 29th day of April, 2011.

Maurice Rodgerson, Chair
John Broderick, Commissioner
Ferne MacPhail, Commissioner

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Order

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WHEREAS the Georgetown Sewage Collection and Treatment Corporation (the "Utility"), by application filed on February 7, 2011, applied to the Commission for an increase in its Tariff of sewer rates and charges; 

AND WHEREAS the Utility's filing proposes to implement rate increases in phases, commencing May 1, 2011 and continuing on September 1, 2011; January 1, 2012 and May 1, 2012; 

AND WHEREAS subsequent to submitting its rate filing, the Utility circulated a notice to sewer customers explaining the reasons for the filing, and held a public information meeting in the community on March 14, 2011; 

AND WHEREAS following receipt of the application and the Utility's steps to inform residents, the Commission published a Notice in the local newspaper inviting written comments on the proposal; 

AND WHEREAS following the April 8th, 2011 deadline for comments, the Commission did not receive any written submissions in response to the notice; 

AND WHEREAS the Commission has considered the submission of the Utility and supporting operating and financial data; 

AND WHEREAS the Commission has conducted a thorough analysis of the application, including the Utility's projected revenue and expenditure requirements; 

AND WHEREAS the Commission has determined that increased costs associated with the ongoing operation and maintenance of the central wastewater system, combined with costs related to recent plant upgrades, result in the need for additional revenue; 

AND WHEREAS it appears to the Commission that the phasing in of sewer rate increases is fair and reasonable; 

AND WHEREAS it further appears to the Commission that the Tariffs of Rates and Charges approved herein are necessary and equitable;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act and the Water and Sewerage Act

IT IS ORDERED THAT

1. The existing Tariff for wastewater services of the Georgetown Sewage Collection and Treatment Corporation is revoked and the Tariffs appended to, and forming part of, this Order, is substituted therefor; and

2. The appended Tariffs are approved and declared effective on May 1, 2011, September 1, 2011, January 1, 2012 and May 1, 2012, respectively, and shall remain in effect until otherwise ordered by the Commission.

DATED at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, this 29th day of April, 2011.

BY THE COMMISSION:

Maurice Rodgerson, Chair

John Broderick, Commissioner

Ferne MacPhail, Commissioner

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NOTICE

Section 12 of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act reads as follows:

12. The Commission may, in its absolute discretion, review, rescind or vary any order or decision made by it or rehear any application before deciding it.

Parties to this proceeding seeking a review of the Commission's decision or order in this matter may do so by filing with the Commission, at the earliest date, a written Request for Review, which clearly states the reasons for the review and the nature of the relief sought.

Sections 13.(1), 13(2), 13(3), and 13(4) of the Act provide as follows:

13.(1)  An appeal lies from a decision or order of the Commission to the Court of Appeal upon a question of law or jurisdiction.

(2) The appeal shall be made by filing a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeal within twenty days after the decision or order appealed from and the rules of court respecting appeals apply with the necessary changes.

(3) The Commission shall be deemed to be a party to the appeal.

(4) No costs shall be payable by any party to an appeal under this section unless the Court of Appeal, in its discretion, for special reasons, so orders.

NOTE: In accordance with IRAC's Records Retention and Disposition Schedule, the material contained in the official file regarding this matter will be retained by the Commission for a period of 5 years.

Sewer Rates and Charges

Application:

The following annual rates and charges apply to sanitary sewerage services provided to premises served or capable of being served by the Georgetown Sewage Treatment and Collection Corporation.

Rates:

$124.80 per unit per annum in accordance with the appended Proportionate Sewer Charges.

Frontage Charge:

A frontage charge of seventy-eight cents ($0.78) per lineal foot per annum applies to all land adjacent to streets, roads or highways on which there are no buildings or structures or where sanitary disposal service is not required but which land is capable of being served by the existing facilities of the Utility. In the case of premises billed under the Proportionate Sewer Charges, an exemption of ten (10) feet frontage for each one-tenth of a unit will be allowed.  In the case of corner lots with sewerage facilities on both sides, the frontage charge applies to the full frontage on the longest side, and the full frontage less one hundred (100) feet on the other side (less allowable exemption, if any).

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Proportionate Sewer Charges

TYPE OF CUSTOMER	UNIT VALUE	ANNUAL SEWER CHARGE		TYPE OF CUSTOMER	UNIT VALUE	ANNUAL SEWER CHARGE
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING	1.00	$124.80		DOCTORS' & DENTISTS' OFFICES AND BEAUTY & BARBER SHOPS      With Separate Service
					1.00	$124.80
INDIVIDUAL APARTMENT	0.80	$99.84		Combined With Other Service	0.50	$62.40
MOBILE HOME	0.70	$87.36		LAUNDROMAT WITH MACHINES USING OVER 30 GALLONS PER WASH      For First Machine
					3.00	$374.40
SENIOR CITIZENS HOME, Per Unit	0.60	$74.88		For Second Machine	2.00	$249.60
				For Each Additional Machine	1.00	$124.80
CONVENT, INSTITUTIONAL DORMITORY, ROOMING OR BOARDING HOUSE      For Up to Five Persons
	1.00	$124.80		LAUNDROMAT WITH MACHINES USING 30 OR FEWER GALLONS PER WASH      For First Machine
For Each Additional Person	0.20	$24.96			2.00	$249.60
				For Second Machine	1.50	$187.20
MOTELS AND TOURIST COTTAGES      With Housekeeping Facilities,      Each Unit				For Each Additional Machine	0.75	$93.60
	0.50	$62.40
With Bathroom Facilities Only,      Each Unit				SERVICE STATION      Without Carwash	1.00	$124.80
	0.30	$37.44		With Carwash	2.00	$249.60
TOURIST HOME      For First Bathroom	1.00	$124.80		RESTAURANTS AND SNACK BARS	1.00	$124.80
For Each Additional Bathroom or      Washroom	0.30	$37.44		For Each Ten Seats, an Additional      Amount of	0.25	$31.20
HOSPITAL      Without Laundry Facilities,      Per Bed				PREMISES LICENSED BY THE P.E.I. LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION:      Restaurant, Lounge, Dining      Room or Club
	0.50	$62.40
With Laundry Facilities,      Per Bed	0.75	$93.60			1.00	$124.80
				SEAT CHARGE:  Calculate 75% of      Fire Marshal's rating OR      the actual seat count,      then charge, for each five      seats, an additional amount of
SCHOOLS, Per Classroom	1.00	$124.80			0.25	$31.20
STORES, BANKS, CLUBS, CHURCHES, HALLS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND PLACES OF BUSINESS      For First Washroom Facility				DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT OR THEATRE      With Canteen	1.00	$124.80
				For First Washroom and Toilet      Facility	1.00	$124.80
	1.00	$124.80		For Each Additional Washroom      and Toilet Facility	0.50	$62.40
For Each Additional Toilet or Urinal	0.50	$62.40

APPLICATION: 

In cases where any customer of the Utility discharges a sewage effluent into the sanitary sewer system which is excessively strong or where the suspended solids or fat and grease components are excessively high, the Utility may determine by sample testing and such other means as may be available, the degree of excessive contamination and require the customer to pay an additional surcharge in accordance with the concentration of the suspended solids and fat and grease proportions as set forth below.

SURCHARGE:

SUSPENDED SOLIDS:  For any liquid matter discharged which contains suspended solids exceeding three hundred (300) parts per million by weight, the sewer charge will be increased as follows:

Approved:   Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission
Effective:    September 1, 2011
Order Authorizing Tariff: IRAC/UW18302/UW11-01

Georgetown Sewage Collection
and Treatment Corporation

SEWER TARIFF
 

THIS TARIFF SPECIFIES THE RATES AND CHARGES APPLICABLE
TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GEORGETOWN SEWAGE
COLLECTION AND TREATMENT CORPORATION