WSSC FY17 Budget Takes Effect July 1 Includes Full Phase-In of Infrastructure Fee
General Manager Emphasizes Communication to Customers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 30, 2016 – (RealEstateRama) — WSSC’s fiscal year 2017 (FY17) operating and capital budget of $1.4 billion goes into effect on July 1. The new budget, focused on continued rehabilitation of aging water and sewer pipelines, includes a 3 percent usage rate increase as well as the full phase-in of the Infrastructure Investment Fee (IIF), an additional $6 per quarter.
The IIF is a component of the Ready-to-Serve Charge which is allotted for the repair and replacement of WSSC’s aging infrastructure. Combined, the increase in usage rate and the IIF, add approximately $9.84 to the typical customer quarterly bill or about $3.28 per month.
“The fee increase in this budget contributes to a stable source of revenue for repair and renewal of infrastructure,” says Carla A. Reid, GM/CEO of WSSC. “We want to be certain that our customers fully understand the investment that WSSC is making to improve delivery of water and wastewater services.”
To this end, a letter from the General Manager will be included in customer bills beginning July 1 and a short video message via social media will direct customers to the letter.
The FY17 Operating Budget represents $735.5 million, an increase of $20.4 million or 2.8 percent over last year’s budget. Water and sewer debt service, new positions to support new regulatory requirements, and IT infrastructure to enhance customer service were some of the main drivers for this increase.
The FY17 Capital Budget represents $685.5 million, an increase of $0.9 million or 0.1% over last year. Ongoing construction of sewer pipelines for the federally mandated Consent Decree; rehabilitation of small water mains and house connections, as recommended by the Bi-County Infrastructure Funding Working Group, account for the majority of this increase.
WSSC is continuing its Customer Assistance Program (CAP). Customers who are enrolled in the Office of Home Energy Program (OHEP) receive a credit for the fees on their WSSC bill. The budget includes a $2.2 million revenue offset for the CAP. So far nearly 7,000 customers have benefited from the CAP program. For more information, visit www.wsscwater.com/CAP.
The FY17 budget is available at www.wsscwater.com/budget
Established in 1918, today WSSC is among the largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation. We proudly serve the 1.8 million residents of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, providing life’s most precious resource. WSSC drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.
