HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/14/2006 - SINGLE FAMILY/DUPLEX WATER RATE ALTERNATIVES DATE: February 14, 2006 WORK SESSION ITEM
STAFF: Michael Smith FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
Terri Bryant
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Single Family/Duplex Water Rate Alternatives.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Should staff prepare a water rate ordinance for Council consideration in March?
2. If so, which rate option best meets Councilmembers' objectives?
BACKGR
OUND
Utilities staff members Michael Smith, Terri Bryant and Bill Switzer presented Council with
eight sample water rate options for single family and duplex customers at the January 24, 2006
Work Session. Councilmembers agreed that the rates should reflect the following four criteria:
1. Fair and equitable
2. Promote conservation
3. Simple and understandable
4. Stable and predictable
Councilmembers expressed concern that the $12 fixed fee was too high, particularly in
comparison to surrounding communities and suggested fixed fees in the $6 to $9 range.
Councilmembers also discussed the merits of uniform rates and tiered rates, noting that the
uniform rate may not appear to send a strong conservation signal. Councilmembers also voiced
support for placing a "cap" on the percentage increase between the lowest and highest tier if a
tiered rate is adopted. The more complex water budget rate was discussed briefly, but, did not
generate wide support.
Staff was asked to return to the February 14, 2006 Work Session with the following rate options:
1. Uniform rates with fixed charges between$6 and $9
2. Tiered rates with fixed charges between $6 and $9 with an increase of no more
than 20-33 1/3%between the first and last tier.
Alternative Rate Options
The following tables and graphs present a comparison of the uniform rates and tiered rates with a
$6 fixed charge and a $9 fixed charge. The percentage difference between the lowest and
highest tiered rate does not exceed 33.1%.
February 14, 2006 Page 2
Option A: $6 Fixed Charge; 4-Tier(10% steps)
Option B: $6 Fixed Charge; Uniform Rate
(Shaded boxes on the table indicate reductions from the current rates
Option A; Option B;
Gallons Current 4-Tier $on Fixed; $6.00
Use Rate tier(Fire Fixed;
Uniform
Current 4-Tier Rate 0 $ 12.72 $ 6.36 $ 6.36
Fixed/mo $ 12.72 1000 $ 14.50 $ 8.95 $ 9.13
0-7000 $ 1.781 2,000 $ 16.28 $ 11.53 $ 11.90
7001-13000 $ 2.141 3,000 1 $ 18.06 $ 14.12 $ 14,67
13001-20000 $ 2.565 4,000 $ 19.84 $ 16.70 $ 17.44
> 20000 $ 3.074 5,000 $ 21.63 $ 19.29 $ 20.21
Option A 6,000 $ 23.41 $ 21.87 $ 22.98
Fixed $ 6.00 7,000 $ 25.19 $ 24.46 $ 25.75
Step % 10% 10,000 $ 31.61 $ 32.99 $ 34.06
Top to bottom = 33.1% 13,000 38.03 41.52 $ 42.37
Fixed/mo $ 6.36 16,000 $ 45.73 50.90 $ 50.68
0-7000 $ 2.585/kgal 20,000 $ 55.99 $ 63.42 $ 61.76
7001-
13000 $ 2.844/kgal 25,000 $ 71.36 $ 80.62 $ 75.61
13001-
20000 $ 3.128/kgal 30,000 86.73 $ 97.83 $ 89.46
> 20000 3.441/k al 35.000 $ 102.10 $ 115.03 1 $ 103.31
Option B 40,000 $ 117.47 $ 132.24 $ 117.16
Fixed $ $ 6.00 50,000 $ 148.21 $ 166.65 $ 144.86
Step % 0% 75,000 $ 225.06 $ 252.67 $ 214.11
Fixed/mo $ 6.36 100,000 $ 301.91 $ 338.70 $ 283.36
0-7000 $ 2.770/kgal 150,000 $ 455.61 $ 510.75 $ 421.86
7001-
13000 $ 2.770/kgal 200 000 609.31 682.80 $ 560.36
13001-
20000 $ 2.770/kgal
> 20000 2.770/k al
February 14, 2006 Page 3
Option A;$&00 Fhred;4-tier(100/4
option Et$B00 Fixed;Uniform
0-20,000 Gallons
$70
$60
$50
L
c
o
m
O $30
0
0
U
$20
$10
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
N C6 d' N fD
Gallons per Month
QrreM 4-Tier We—r Option A••...•• Qption B
February U, 2006 Page 4
Option A;$6.00 Fixed;4-tier(10%)
Option B;$6.00 Fixed;Uniform
0- 100,000 Gallons
$400
$350
$300
t $250
c
0
`m $200
a
v $150
$100
$50
Gallons per Month
Current 4-Tier Rate Option A ------- Option B
February 14, 2006 Page 5
Comments:
Significant impact on revenue stability as fixed charge is reduced by 50%
Option A:
• Moderate relief to customers using less than 8,000 gallons per month
• Customers using more than 8,000 gallons per month will see cost increases
• Greater price incentive per gallon may encourage additional conservation
Option B:
• Customers using less than 6,000 gallons per month will see cost reductions
• Customers using more than 6,000 and less than 40,000 gallons per month will see
moderate increases in costs and greater price incentive to conserve
• Customers using more than 40,000 gallons per month will see cost relief from
current 4-tier rate
February 14, 2006 Page 6
Option C: $9 Fixed Charge; 4-Tier(10% steps)
Option D: $9 Fixed Charge; Uniform Rate
Shaded boxes on the table indicate reductions from the current rates)
Option C• Option D;
Gallons Current 4- $9.00 Fixed; $9.00
Use Tier Rate 4-tier(10%) Fixed;
Uniform
Current 4-Tier Rate 0 $ 12.72 $ 9.54 $ 9.54
Fixed/mo $ 12.72 1000 $ 14.50 $ 11.79 $ 11.95
0-7000 $ 1.781/kgal 2,000 $ 16.28 $ 14.04 $ 14.36
7001-
13000 $ 2.141/kgal 3000 $ 18.06 $ 16.28 $ 16.77
13001-
20000 $ 2.565/kgal 4,000 $ 19.84 $ 18.53 $ 19.18
>20000 $ 3.074/k al 5,0 21.63 $ 20.78 $ 21.59
Option C 6,000 $ 23.41 $ 23.03 $ 23.99
Fixed $ $ 9.00 7,000 25.19 $ 25.28 26.40
Step % 100/( 10,000 $ 31.61 $ 32.69 $ 33.63
Top to bottom = 33.1% 13,000 $ 38.03 $ 40.11 $ 40.86
Fixed/mo $ 9.54 16,000 $ 45.73 $ 48.27 $ 48.08
0-7000 $ 2.248/kgal 20,000 $ 55.99 59.15 $ 57.72
7001-
13000 $ 2.472/kgal 25,000 $ 71.36 $ 74.11 $ 69.77
13001-
20000 $ 2.720/kgal 30,000 $ 86.73 89.07 $ 81.81
> 20000 2.992/k al 35,000 $ 102.10 $ 104.03 $ 93.86
Option D 40 000 $ 117.47 $ 118.99 1 $ 105.90
Fixed $ $ 9.00 50,000 $ 148.21 $ 148.91 1 $ 129.99
Step % 0% 75,000 $ 225.06 $ 223.71 $ 190.22
Fixed/mo $ 9.54 100,000 301.91 $ 298.51 $ 250.44
0-7000 $ 2.409/kgal 150,000 455.61 $ 448.11 $ 370.89
7001-
13000 $ 2.409/kga1 200 000 609.31 $ 597.71 $ 491.34
13001-
20000 $ 2.409/kgal
> 20000 2.409/k al
February 14, 2006 page 7
Option C;$9.00 Fixed;4tler(100/4
Option R $9.00 Fixed;Uniform
0-20,000 gallons
$70
$60
$50
t
$40
m
Q.
m $30
0
V
$20
$10
s s o a § 8 a $ a S
lV th ! In N !A N W R ck IJ ^ fR ^ ^ N
Gallons per Month
Qirrent 4-Tier Rate Optlon C•--•--• Option D
February 14, 2006 Page 8
Option C;$9.00 Fixed;4-tier(100/9)
Option D; $9.00 Fixed;Uniform
0-100,000 gallons
$350
$300
$250
L
w
O $200
a
N $150
0
C.1
$100
$50
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00
0 C 0 0 C 0 0 C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
OO
Gallons per Month
Current 4-Tier Rate T Option C------- Option D
Comments:
• Moderate reduction in revenue stability as fixed rate is reduced by 25%
Option C:
• Moderate relief to customers using less than 6,000 gallons per month
• Customers using more than 6,000 gallons and less than 58,000 gallons per month
will see cost increases
• Very similar to current rate
Option D:
• Reduction in costs for customers using less than 5,000 gallons per month
• Increase in costs for customers using more than 5,000 gallons and less than
23,000 gallons per month
• Moderate reduction for customers using more than 23,000 gallons per month
• Higher users will see some cost relief from the current 4-tier structure
February 14, 2006 Page 9
Many factors influence the effectiveness of rate structures and the ability to send the appropriate
price signals to consumers. Western Resource Advocates suggest that conservation price signals
and customer price sensitivity produce results when fixed charges are lower, tiers are minimal,
and increases in block prices are aggressive. Given that observation, staff presents the following
3-tier options with 15% steps, and maintaining a less than 33% difference between the lowest
and highest tier.
Option E: $9 Fixed Charge; 3-Tier(15% steps)
Option F: $6 Fixed Charge; 3-Tier(15% steps)
Shaded boxes on the table indicate reductions from the current rates
Option E; Option F;
Gallon Current 4- $6.00
s Use Tier Rate $9.00 Fixed; Fixed;3-tier
3-tier(15%) 15%
Current 4-Tier Rate 0 $ 12.72 $ 9.54 $ 6.36
Fixed/mo $ 12.72 1,000 $ 14.50 $ 11.74 $ 8.90
0-7000 1.781/kgal 2.000 $ 16.28 $ 13.95 $ 11.43
7001-13000 2.141/kgal 3,000 $ 18.06 $_ 16.15 $ 13.97
13001- $
20000 2.565/kgal 4,000 $ 19.84 $ 18.36 $ _ „ 16.50
>20000 3.074/k al 5 000 $ 21.63 $ 20.56 $ 19.04
Option E 6.000 $ 23.41 $ 22.76 $ 21.57
Fixed$ $ 9.00 7 000 $ 25.19 $ 24.97 $ 24.11
Step% 15% 10 000 $ 31.61 $ 32.57 $ 32.85
Top to bottom=32.3% 13 000 $ 38.03 $ 40.18 $ 41.60
Fixed/mo $ 9.54 16 000 $ 45.73 $ 48.92 $ 51.66
0-7000 2.204/kgal 20 000 $ 55.99 $ 60.58 $ 65.07
7001-13000 2.535/kgal 25 000 $ 71.36 $ 75.16 $ 81.84
> 13000 2.915/keal 30.000 $ 86.73 $ 89.73 $ 98.60
Option F 35,000 $ 102.10 $ 104.31 $ 115.37
Fixed$ $ 6.00 40,000 1 $ 117.47 $ 118.88 $ 132.13
Step% 15% 50.000 $ 148.21 '' $ 165.66
Top to bottom=32.3% 75.000 $ 225.06 $ 249.49
Fixed/mo $ 6.36 100,000 $ 301.91 $ 333.31
0-7000 2.535/kgal 150 000 $ 455.61 $ `f 433A $ 500.96
7001-13000 2.916/kgal 200 000 S 609.31 S 668.61
> 13000 3.353/k al
February
eb uary 14, 2006 Page 10
Option E;$g.00 fixed;3 tie r(15%)
Option F;$6.00 fixed;3 tier(15%)
0-20,000 gallons
$70
$60
$50
t
o $40
f
I d
a
� $30
0
U
$20
$10
$-
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 o g o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
N fh V N f0 A N O CD m O
' N
Gallons per Month
Ourrent 4-Tier Rate Option E----•-- Option F
February 14, 2006 Page 11
Option E;$9.00 fixed;3 tier(15%)
Option F;$6.00 fixed;3 tier(15%)
0-100,000 gallons
$350
$300
$250
t
`o $200
m
a $150
0
U
$100
$50
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o p
o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o d
N O N O () O N O N O N O N O N O N O N p
Gallons per Month
CLrrent 4-Tier Pate T Option E-••-••• Option F
February 14, 2006 Page 12
Comments:
• 15% steps address the perception of aggressive conservation rate as higher cost
per gallon will provide incentives to conserve
• Minimal use of tiers while maintaining ca 33 1/3% between tiers
P
Option E:
• Low users—below 8,000 gallons per month—will see moderate price reductions
• High users — above 50,000 gallons per month - will also see moderate price
reductions
• Customers between 8,000 and 50,000 gallons per month will see a slight increase
in costs
• Very similar costs as with current 4-tier rate
• Moderate reduction in revenue stability as fix rate is reduced by 25%
Option F:
• Customers using less than 8,000 gallons per month will see a reduction in costs
• Customers using more than 8,000 gallons will see increases in costs
• No cost relief for high users in comparison to current rates
• Significant reduction in revenue stability due to fix charge reduced by 50%
Water Board Recommendation:
The Water Board's Financial and Legislative Subcommittee met to discuss water rates on
January 6, 2006. In general, the committee has recommended that the current rates remain in
effect for 2006 and the foreseeable future. Their recommendation is attached.
Next Steps:
Prepare Water Rate Ordinance for Council consideration
ATTACHMENTS
• Water Board Recommendation
• Council Water Rates Presentation Slides
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 13, 2005
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Ted A. Borstad, Water Board Chair
RE: Water Rates
The Fort Collins Water Board recommends that City Council retain the current fixed charge plus
four-tier water rate structure for the foreseeable future (at least for two years unless currently
unanticipated events or conditions strongly indicate otherwise).
The Water Board further recommends that the current rate structure be reviewed annually for the
next two years by Utility staff and the Water Board to determine if any adjustments in either the
fixed charge or tiered rates should be recommended to City Council.
These recommendation are based on the following factors:
1. The existing rate four-tiered rate structure adequately addresses the following key
criteria for water rates:
• promotion of long-term efficient water use;
• understandable by ratepayers;
• compatible with the current utility billing system;
• providing water at lower prices for basic and essential needs;
• rewarding customers for lower water use with lower unit rates; and
• providing reasonably stable and predicable revenue to operate the water
utility.
2. The current rate structure has been in place for about 18 months. The Utility staff
is still gaining necessary and valuable experience with this structure, especially in
estimating future revenues relative to costs and reserves. Additional time is
necessary to refine future revenue estimates to cover costs and best manage
reserves.
3. Though we have no direct evidence, the current rate structure is believed to be a
factor in the overall reduction in water use (as measured by average daily
consumption) experienced since it's inception (i.e., it sends a strong conservation
price signal to ratepayers).
4. Maintaining the current rate structure should be viewed very favorably during the
ongoing independent environmental review of the City's proposed Halligan
project.
1
5. Changing the current rate structure now (and/or frequently in the future) may be
counterproductive to the water utility's fiscal management. In other words, it will
take several years to be able to adequately predict revenue in wet and dry years.
6. Changing the rate structure may be confusing to the ratepayers and general
public.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this very important issue. If we can be of
further service on this subject, please let us know.
cc: Darin Atteberry
Michael Smith
Terri Bryant
DeEtta Carr
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