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Home My WebLink AboutD-1.1. Adopt Resolution to Amend Rules and Regs_ApprovedSCHEDULED ITEM TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD FROM: MANNY ROBLEDO, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES DATE: JANUARY 25, 2021 SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE AZUSA LIGHT & WATER RULES AND REGULATIONS TO UPDATE CERTAIN WATER AND ELECTRIC UTILITY BUSINESS PRACTICES AND REQUIREMENTS BACKGROUND: Pursuant to Section 78-37 of the Azusa Municipal Code, the City Council/Utility Board may by resolution adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of and service provided by the Light & Water Department (“ALW”). Staff recommends updating certain water and electric rules and regulations to reflect operational changes and prudent utility practices. The recommended action would adopt a resolution to amend the ALW Rules and Regulations to include the changes shown in marked-up document attached to the resolution. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Utility Board take the following action: 1)Adopt Resolution 2021-UB-01 to amend the Azusa Light & Water Rules and Regulations to update certain water and electric utility business practices and requirements, pursuant to Sec. 78-38 of the Azusa Municipal Code. ANALYSIS: The Azusa Municipal Code stipulates the City Council, also serving as the Azusa Utility Board, adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of and service provided by the Light and Water Department (“Azusa Light & Water”). A review of the current Azusa Light & Water (“ALW”) Rules and Regulations has been conducted to identify any obsolete business practices, standards, and requirements between the Electric Utility and Water Utility Rules and D-1Approved Utility Board 1/25/21 Resolution to Amend ALW Rules and Regulations January 25, 2021 Page 2 Regulations. Several areas of the Rules and Regulations are proposed to be amended to reflect current business practices, as summarized below: Water Utility Rules and Regulation Amendments • Section E. Fire Service Charge: Amendment including fire system testing as an exemption to a penalty charge; requiring the Customer to immediately determine the cause and remedy any repeated illegal water use through their fire service. • Section I. Water System Development Fee: Amendment specifying application of fee to the entire lot area for new buildings and developments; fee for an existing building remodeling shall only apply to increase in floor area; fee shall apply to Accessory Dwelling Units with a total area of 750 square feet or more. • Section O. Water Connection Fee & Capacity Charge: Addition of a new Section O. codifying Ordinance No. 2020-05 adopted by the City of Azusa in August of 2020; specifies Accessory Dwelling Units (“ADU”) with a total area of less than 750 square feet shall pay a fee of $300 per ADU. • Water Utility Rule No. 1 – Definitions: Addition of new definitions for “Unit” and “Water Improvements Plan.” • Water Utility Rule No. 2 – Application for Water Service and Connection: o Section C. New Water Service Connection & Meter: Updated requirements to meet current business practices and standards, including: specified Customer’s responsibility for the costs of a new service lateral and water meter, as applicable; specified options and processes for a Customer to choose ALW to install the water service connection and meter or to choose a qualified independent contractor with an ALW approved Water Improvements Plan. o Section D. Service Establishment Charge: Updated requirements to meet current business practices and standards, including: specified requirement for Customer to install separate services and separate meters to each Unit at their expense; specified all proposed, modified, tenant improvements, or new developments shall have a water meter for each Unit, including commercial, industrial, parks, school, mixed-use, and complex development; specified Customer shall take sole responsibility for cost incurred caused by relocating/removing existing facilities owned by ALW; specified no water lateral shall cross over adjacent property lines. Resolution to Amend ALW Rules and Regulations January 25, 2021 Page 3 • Water Utility Rule No. 3 One Meter for Multiple Connections: Addition of Section B. Master Meter specifying a master meter may be installed by the owner to supply a subdivision residential, commercial, and industrial development, provided they submeter each Unit to comply with applicable State of California laws; submeters shall be owned and maintained by the property owner/homeowners association. • Water Utility Rule No. 6 Notices: Amended Section A to include language moved from Section B. • Water Utility Rule No. 10 Meter Tests and Adjustments of Bills for Meter Error: Amended Section A, 2 stating Customer shall have the right to require the Utility to conduct a meter accuracy test once every 12 months. • Water Utility Rule No. 11 Temporary Service: Addition of Section K which limits temporary meters to be in service for no longer than twelve months before being returned to ALW. If a temporary meter is still required, a Customer may reapply for a new meter. • Water Utility Rule No. 12 Application for Water Mains and Water Main Extensions: Addition of current requirements, standards of materials, and licenses required for installation of water mains. • Water Utility Rule No. 13 Fire Hydrants and Fire Flow Tests: Addition of Section C codifying requirement for fire hydrants to be installed by the property owner of a proposed development; addition of Section D codifying current spacing requirements for fire hydrants; addition of Section E codifying current business practice not to allow public fire hydrants on private property; addition of subheading for Temporary Hydrant Meter using existing language. • Water Utility Rule No. 14 Shut-Off Valve Requirement: Amended title to include “Private” shut-off valve requirement; codifying shut off valves shall be owned and maintained by the property owner. • Water Utility Rule No. 16 Supply to Separate Premises and Resale: Addition of requirement stating no water lateral shall cross over adjacent property lines to supply adjacent properties, Units, or buildings; all Units are required to have their own water meter supplied by a water service lateral via their own parcel/property lines. • Water Utility Rule No. 18 Sewer Pipe/Distance from Water Pipe: Amendment specifying current ALW water and sewer separation standard. • Water Utility Rule No. 20 Cross-Connection Control: Addition of definition for fire department connection and double-check detector assembly; clarification in Section D. Resolution to Amend ALW Rules and Regulations January 25, 2021 Page 4 that all commercial, industrial, fire services, parks, schools, irrigation and master meters are required to have a backflow preventer installed by the property owner to match current requirements; amendment of Section E. citing approved backflow devices must match existing ALW standard W-15; addition of Section E, 5 codifying requirement that a fire department connection shall not be installed on a double check detector assembly or double check detector assembly riser; amending Section G, 2 codifying the Utility’s right to discontinue potable water service if denied access to perform a cross connection survey, as legally allowed. • Miscellaneous grammar and spelling corrections Electric Utility Rules and Regulation Amendments • All Electric Rate schedules SL-1, SL-2, SL-3, and OL have been updated to reflect the reduced energy consumption of LED streetlight fixtures. • Rate schedules pertaining to the types of streetlights which are not in the system have been omitted. • Miscellaneous grammar and spelling corrections Consumer Service Division Rules and Regulation Amendments • Electric Utility Rule No. 6 - Pre-Payments: Changed eligibility for refund of prepayment from 24 months to 36 months of clear payment history. • Electric Utility Rule No. 7 - Notices: Added door hangers as a form of notice for normal operations and electronic mail and website posting as forms of notices for emergency operations. • Electric Utility Rule No. 8 - Rendering and Payment of Bills: o Section C: Amended account past due grace period from 20 to 15 days. o Section D: Extended cash payment period for returned items from 6 months to 12 months and make all forms of payments subject to the returned item charge. o Section F: Changed Credit Card Charge section to Credit Card Payment Limit as credit card convenience fees are no longer charged for payments up to $10,000 per month. Resolution to Amend ALW Rules and Regulations January 25, 2021 Page 5 o Section H: Added the 24% collection fee amount as it was not previously specified. • Electric Utility Rule No. 9 – Discontinuance and Restoration of Service: Amended account past due grace period from 20 to 15 days. • Water Utility Rule No. 5 – Pre-Payments: Changed eligibility for refund of prepayment from 24 months to 36 months of clear payment history. • Water Utility Rule No. 7 - Notices: Added door hangers as a form of notice for normal operations and electronic mail and website posting as forms of notices for emergency operations. • Water Utility Rule No. 7 - Rendering and Payment of Bills: o Section B: Amended account past due grace period from 20 to 15 days; o Section C: Extend cash payment period for returned items from 6 months to 12 months and make all forms of payments subject to the returned item charge. o Section E: Changed Credit Card Charge section to Credit Card Payment Limit as credit card convenience fees are no longer charged for payments up to $10,000 per month. o Section G: Added the 24% collection fee amount as it was not previously specified. • Miscellaneous grammar and spelling corrections The Azusa Municipal Code, Sec 78-38, allows rates and charges and rules and regulations to be amended from time to time by resolution of the City Council/Utility Board. This action will adopt a resolution to amend the Rules and Regulations, as previously summarized, to reflect current Water and Electric Utility business practices. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting this resolution. Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved by: Jared Macias Manny Robledo Resolution to Amend ALW Rules and Regulations January 25, 2021 Page 6 Assistant Director of Utilities – Water Operations Director of Utilities Hien K. Vuong Assistant Director of Utilities – Electric Operations Alicia Holmes Assistant Director of Utilities – Customer Care & Solutions Reviewed and Approved by: Sergio Gonzalez City Manager Attachments: 1) Resolution 2021-UB-01 Amendments to ALW Rules and Regulations 2) Redlined ALW Rules and Regulations