Chapter 13.08
WATER RATES
13.08.010 Collection.
13.08.020 Inside city limits.
13.08.030 Outside city limits.
13.08.050 Private fire lines-Inside city limits.
13.08.060 Private fire lines-Outside city limits.
13.08.070 Additional charge.
13.08.080 City use.
13.08.090 Construction and miscellaneous uses.
13.08.100 Standby or partial service.
13.08.110 Steam plant offset charge.
13.08.120 Application for service.
13.08.121 Application for service-Single-family domestic.
13.08.122 Noncompliance.
13.08.130 Deposit.
13.08.140 Bill payment-Enforcement.
13.08.150 Determination.
13.08.160 Disputed or erroneous bills.
13.08.170 Rate computations.
13.08.180 Sunset clause-Rates.
13.08.010 Collection.
A. The rates set out in this chapter shall be charged and collected by the public service department for all water sold, supplied, distributed or transported by the city, except as may be established by contract.
B. The Department will require each prospective customer to apply for the service desired, and also to provide the department with the necessary information to establish credit. The customer will be charged a new account fee of fifteen dollars when applying for service. An additional eighteen dollars may be charged if the customer requires same day turn on.
C. All service applications which require installation of a new meter will be charged a fifteen-dollar fee for the first meter and a five-dollar fee for each subsequent meter to be installed at a single premises, when all meters are installed at one time. (Ord. 5151 º1(part), 1997: Ord. 4957 º 3, 1991: prior code 9-14)
13.08.020 Inside city limits.
A. The meter rate for water sold, supplied, distributed or transported to customers within the city, unless otherwise herein specified, shall be as follows:
Customer Charge
Per Meter
Size of Meter Per Month
1-inch and smaller $ 6.50
11/2-inch 11.43
2-inch 18.55
3-inch 28.50
4-inch 48.45
6-inch 76.94
8-inch 123.38
10-inch 176.61
12-inch 247.25
Commodity Charge
Rate Per
100 cu. ft.
Units of 100 cu. ft. Per Month
First 10 $0.4801
All in excess of 10 0.8714
B. The commodity charges of the foregoing rates in subsection A of this section are subject to adjustment for variation of cost of purchased water as described in Section 13.08.150, and for variation of cost of fuel adjustment for electric power required in pumping water as described in Section 13.08.150, and for variation in revenue collection resulting from the implementation of water conservation measures as described in Section 13.08.150.
C. The monthly bill shall be the sum of the customer charge, commodity charge, purchased water adjustment costs, fuel adjustment charges for electric power required in pumping water, and water conservation surcharge. (Ord. 5109 º 1, 1996: Ord. 5091 º 1, 1995: Ord. 5054 º 1, 1994: Ord. 4956 º 16, 1991: prior code º 9-15)
13.08.030 Outside city limits.
A. The meter rate for water sold, supplied, distributed or transported to customers outside of the city shall be one and one-half times the customer and commodity charges specified in Section 13.08.020.
B. The commodity charges of the rates in subsection A of this section are subject to adjustment for variation of cost of purchased water as described in Section 13.08.150 of this code, and for variation of cost of fuel adjustment for electric power required in pumping water as described in Section 13.08.150, and for variations in revenue collection resulting from the implementation of water conservation measures as described in Section 13.08.150.
C. The monthly bill shall be the sum of the customer charge, commodity charge, purchased water adjustment costs, fuel adjustment charges for electric power required in pumping water, and water conservation surcharge. (Ord. 5109 º 2, 1996: Ord. 5091 º 2, 1995: Ord. 5054 º 2, 1994: Ord. 4956 º 17, 1991: prior code º 9-16)
13.08.050 Private fire lines-Inside city limits.
The rate for water service and water consumed by private fire lines used exclusively for fire protection, whether such lines be connected with automatic sprinkling systems or to hose attachments, shall be as follows:
Rate Per Line
Size Fire Line Per Month
2-inch $ 7.01
3-inch 15.66
4-inch 21.75
6-inch $31.09
8-inch 43.49
10-inch 74.58
(Ord. 5109 º 3, 1996: Ord. 5091 º 3, 1995: Ord. 5054 º 3, 1994: Ord. 4956 º 18, 1991: prior code º 9-19)
13.08.060 Private fire lines-Outside city limits.
Private fire line service involving use of surplus water may be made available to customers located outside the city in accordance with rates, terms and conditions contained in contracts approved by the council. (Prior code º 9-20)
13.08.070 Additional charge.
A. In addition to the monthly rate for private fire lines set out in Section 13.08.050 the commodity charge specified in Section 13.08.020 shall be charged for all water used for other than fire-extinguishing purposes as recorded on the bypass meter. The department may, as it sees fit, read any such bypass meter and render bills accordingly.
B. The commodity charge of the foregoing rates is subject to adjustment for variation of cost of purchased water as described in Section 13.08.150, for variation of cost of fuel adjustment for electric power required in pumping water as described in Section 13.08.150, and for the water conservation surcharge as described in Section 13.08.150. (Ord. 5112 º 8, 1996: prior code º 9-21)
13.08.080 City use.
A. All services furnished to the city, except to the department, shall be paid for at the rates established by this chapter, and all water furnished to the city, except to the department, shall be paid for at the meter rates established by this chapter. Where it is impracticable to furnish such water through a meter for sewer flushing, street sweeping, watering trees, storm drain flushing, construction purposes, and all miscellaneous uses not specifically mentioned in this chapter, such water shall be paid for at the commodity charge established by this chapter. The monthly volume of unmetered water used for such purposes shall be estimated by the director of public service and charges for such water shall be made in accordance with such estimates.
B. The commodity charge of the foregoing rates is subject to adjustment for variation of cost of purchased water as described in Section 13.08.150, for variation of cost of fuel adjustment for electric power required in pumping water as described in Section 13.08.150, and for the water conservation surcharge as described in Section 13.08.150. (Ord. 5112 º 9, 1996: prior code º 9-22)
13.08.090 Construction and miscellaneous uses.
A. Water for construction and miscellaneous uses shall be furnished through a metered temporary service connection under the conditions stated in Sections 13.16.070 through 13.16.110. The charges for use of such water shall be the appropriate meter rates specified in Section 13.08.020 or Section 13.08.030.
B. Where it is impracticable to furnish such water through a temporary service connection, the quantity shall be estimated and the monthly charges shall consist of a customer charge of not less than fifteen dollars and a commodity charge of not less than one dollar per one hundred cubic feet. The estimated quantity shall be subject to review and adjustment after completion of use. Where water is used for settling filled ground or preparing subgrade, the quantity to be charged for shall be not less than twenty percent of the cubic contents of the fill or subgrade except when a flooding procedure is used, in which case it shall be not less than forty percent of the cubic contents.
C. For miscellaneous uses where water is drawn from hydrants into portable tanks, the charge shall be at the rate of five dollars and fifty cents per one thousand gallons or fraction thereof.
D. The commodity charge of the rates in this section is subject to adjustment for variation of cost of purchased water as described in Section 13.08.150, for variation of cost of fuel adjustment for electric power required in pumping water as described in Section 13.08.150, and for the water conservation surcharge as described in Section 13.08.150. (Ord. 5112 º 10, 1996: Ord. 5109 º 4, 1996: Ord. 5091 º 4, 1995: Ord. 5054 º 4, 1994: Ord. 4956 º 19: prior code º 9-23)
13.08.100 Standby or partial service.
The rates provided in this chapter are not applicable to standby or partial service. This type of service may be furnished in accordance with rates, terms, and conditions contained in contracts approved by the council. (Prior code º 9-23.1)
13.08.110 Steam plant offset charge.
A charge shall be made to the electric works operating expenses which shall be based upon water pumped at the Glendale steam power plant in excess of the amount determined by the public service department to be the plant's annual entitlement under any court judgment relating to Glendale's rights in the Los Angeles River basin. The charge to be made for the amount of such excess shall be calculated at the current Metropolitan Water District rate for purchased water less the production costs at the well head. Determination of the charge shall be made six times yearly, for each of the two-month periods ending as of and with the last day of January, March, May, July, September and November of each year. For each twelve-month period ending September 30th, a review of such charges shall be made for any necessary corrections to conform the charges to the annual entitlement. Such corrections shall be reflected in the charges made for the two-month period ending October 31st of that year. (Prior code º 9-23.2)
13.08.120 Application for service.
The department shall require each applicant for water service, except single-family domestic applicants, to sign an application for the service desired, and also to establish credit. All applications shall be required to provide the following information:
A. Name of applicant;
B. Name of all responsible parties;
C. Social security number of applicant and all responsible parties;
D. Driver's license or California identification card;
E. If business, tax identification number;
F. Purpose for which service is to be used;
G. Location of premises;
H. Address to which bills are to be mailed or delivered;
I. Telephone number where applicant can be reached;
J. Present address and telephone number of applicant and all responsible parties;
K. Previous address and telephone number of applicant and all responsible parties;
L. Place of work or business of applicant and all responsible parties;
M. Whether applicant is owner, agent or tenant of premises;
N. Necessary information to establish the credit of the applicant and all responsible parties;
O. Other premises receiving service or having received service for same applicant, service name, and all responsible parties;
P. Whether premises have been previously supplied;
Q. Date service is to commence;
R. Such other information as may be necessary to establish identity and credit worthiness of applicant and all responsible parties. (Ord. 5112 º 11, 1996)
13.08.121 Application for service-Single-family domestic.
Upon the commencement of use of water service in single-family domestic premises, the applicant shall inform the department as to desire for water service, sign an application for water service and provide the following information:
A. Name of applicant;
B. Name of roommate or spouse;
C. Social security number of applicant and roommate or spouse;
D. Driver's license or California identification card for applicant and roommate or spouse;
E. Location of premises;
F. Address to which bills are to be mailed or delivered;
G. Telephone number where applicant can be reached;
H. Present address and telephone number of applicant if different than premises;
I. Previous address and telephone number of applicant and roommate or spouse;
J. Place of work or business of applicant and roommate or spouse;
K. Whether applicant is owner, agent or tenant of premises;
L. Necessary information to provide identity of applicant and roommate or spouse;
M. Necessary information to establish the credit of the applicant and roommate or spouse;
N. Other premises receiving service or having received service for same applicant, roommate or spouse;
O. Whether premises have been previously supplied;
P. Date of commencement of service;
Q. Such other information as may be necessary to establish identity and credit worthiness of applicant and roommate or spouse. (Ord. 5112 º 12, 1996)
13.08.122 Noncompliance.
On the failure of any customer to comply with the terms of Section 13.08.120 or 13.08.121, such customer's water service is subject to disconnection, and such customer is subject to all disconnection fees and reconnection fees as provided for in this chapter. (Ord. 5112 º 13, 1996)
13.08.130 Deposit.
A. Each applicant for water service shall deposit, with the department, a sum in the estimated amount of two months' charges (three months' charges in the case of accounts billed bimonthly), taking into account all services billed by the department including, but not limited to: water, electric service, rubbish, sewer, hazardous waste, industrial waste, utility tax and state surcharge, as determined by the department. Such deposit shall be in the form of cash, check, money order, time certificate from a commercial bank or savings and loan, or cashiers check. No deposit for a residential account shall be less than one hundred dollars and no deposit for a commercial or industrial account shall be less than two hundred dollars. The calculated deposit shall be added to the applicant's first bill and will be due in accordance with Section 13.08.140 of this code.
B. Any such applicant for water service who shall have been a customer of the department and who shall, during the most recent twelve months within the eighteen months prior to the date of application, have paid before the issuance of any disconnection notice all bills for services levied to such applicant by the department, and who shall have provided all necessary information for credit identification of such applicant, have no unpaid delinquent closing bills or delinquent accounts with the department, and have a satisfactory rating from a credit reporting agency as chosen by the department, shall not be required to make or maintain any such deposit. Any deposit previously made by such applicant shall, after such twelve months' consecutive payment of bills, be applied to such customer's account after any other unpaid delinquent accounts for such customer is satisfied.
C. If any bill for services to such customer shall not be paid within nineteen days after presentation, as provided in Section 13.08.140(A), the amount of such bill may be deducted and paid from the deposit made by such customer. Upon the discontinuation of any service, any balance of such deposit then remaining in the hands of the department after all bills for services to such customer have been paid, shall be returned.
D. On the failure of any customer to comply with the terms of this chapter regarding the payment of bills and where the deposit has been refunded, the department may require the customer to reestablish credit in the manner specified in subsection A of this section for original service. (Ord. 5151 º 1 (part), 1997: Ord. 5112 º 14, 1996: prior code º 9-24)
13.08.140 Bill payment-Enforcement.
A. All charges for water sold, furnished, supplied or delivered by the department shall be due and payable upon presentation of the bill, and if not paid within nineteen days thereafter shall be deemed delinquent. The department may issue a disconnection notice for any delinquent bill and all services for a customer receiving such notice by mail or other delivery may be disconnected without further notice. At the issuance of a disconnection notice a fifteen-dollar penalty will be charged and collected in addition to other amounts due from the customer. There will be a charge of fifteen dollars rendered for any dishonored or returned check received in payment on an account.
B. Water service will not be disconnected if, within forty-eight hours following the delivery of a disconnection notice a customer submits a written protest of the disputed bill containing all facts and evidence necessary to review the protest. The director of public service shall have final and conclusive determination of these protests and shall provide this determination to the customer in writing. Should the protest be denied, water service shall be disconnected within either forty-eight hours from the date of personal service of the determination or within five days from the date of mailing of the determination.
C. If the customer is receiving service from the department at more than one premises, service at any or all of the customer's premises receiving service shall be subject to disconnection and discontinuance without further notice when a notice of disconnection has been mailed or delivered to such customer and bills for service at any one or more premises are not paid within the time specified above.
D. When service has been disconnected for nonpayment of bills, it shall not be reconnected to the same customer except upon payment of all prior billing for service at this account and all other accounts for this customer. Any account disconnected for nonpayment of charges or other noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter or rules and regulations adopted pursuant hereto shall be charged twenty-five dollars. If a customer turns on or causes to be turned on a disconnected service, the department may again turn off the service using any means to ensure that service may not be reconnected by the customer or an agent of the customer and may charge and collect twenty-five or the actual cost for reconnection including replacement costs for any damaged equipment, whichever amount is greater, in addition to other amounts due from the customer.
E. Each time a department representative returns to a customer's premises to reconnect a service, an additional fee of twenty-five dollars shall be charged and collected from the customer before service is restored. When same day service restoration is requested, the service restoration fee shall be thirty dollars.
F. Where any customer, in the determination of the director of public service, has caused, or allowed, water diversion or theft of water service to occur an additional fee of two hundred fifty dollars shall be charged and collected in addition to any other amounts due from the customer. This fee will be in addition to any penalties provided for in any other section of this code or imposed due to violation of state or local law.
G. In the event that a premises is vacant or there is no responsible party on file with the city, the owner of such premises or landlord of such premises shall be liable to the city for the payment of any charges incurred. This includes all charges incurred between the time a tenant vacates the premises and the premises is reoccupied by a new tenant.
H. The department may apply interest to all delinquent accounts. (Ord. 5151 º 2, 1997: Ord. 5112 º 15, 1996: Ord. 4957 º 4, 1991: prior code º 9-25)
13.08.150 Determination.
A. The charges under each rate schedule in this chapter shall be subject to the following unit adjustments:
1. A purchased water adjustment charge reflecting the cost of purchased water and pumping power charges for delivering water, and a water conservation surcharge adjustment reflecting revenue shortages resulting from the implementation of water conservation measures;
2. Unit adjustments shall apply to each one hundred cubic feet of sales to which commodity charges apply as provided under the schedules in this chapter, except that the first ten hundred cubic feet per month are exempted from water conservation surcharges.
B. Estimation of the unit costs for the purchased water adjustment and for the water conservation surcharge adjustment, per hundred cubic feet, shall be made six times yearly for each two-calendar-
month period of water supply beginning with the first day of January, March, May, July, September and November of each year. Such estimates shall be determined by the public service department for each of the two-month periods indicated, and shall include the cost of purchased water, the cost of electric power for pumping water, and any surcharge to pay for water conservation revenue shortfall.
C. A correction factor for over or under collection of prior water adjustment charges shall be applied to the total estimated costs for the upcoming period. Such correction factor shall be derived from city accounting records of the cumulative difference between the actual costs and the estimated costs of purchased water and pumping power required.
D. A correction factor for over or under collection of prior conservation surcharge amounts shall be applied to the total estimated surcharge amount for the upcoming period. Such correction factor shall be derived from city accounting records of the cumulative difference between actual water sales and budgeted water sales for the applicable period.
E. The total estimated cost plus any correction factor shall be divided by the total number of hundred cubic feet estimated to be sold by the department during such two-month period. The resulting unit increment (or decrement) per one hundred cubic feet so calculated to the nearest $0.0001 shall be used in computing the adjustments of customer billings with respect to a period of water use regularly scheduled to end within the two-calendar-month period beginning with the first day of the first calendar month of the two-month period for which purchased water, pumping power costs, and budgeted water sales were estimated.
F. Unit increment (or decrement) adjustments per one hundred cubic feet so derived shall be multiplied by all units of one hundred cubic feet represented in billings to customers (except that the first ten hundred cubic feet per month are exempted from water conservation surcharge), and the resultant amounts in each case (expressed to the nearest $0.01) shall constitute the adjustments to be added to (or subtracted from) customers' billings as otherwise determined under provisions of the service schedules in this chapter. (Ord. 5109 º 7, 1996: prior code º 9-25.1)
13.08.160 Disputed or erroneous bills.
Whenever the correctness of any bill for water is in dispute, the department will cause an investigation to be made.
Bills reflecting clerical or meter errors shall be adjusted to a correct basis as determined by the department's investigation for a period of not to exceed six months prior to discovery of the error. Adjustments for slow or fast meters shall be made in accordance with Section 13.12.070 and Section 13.12.080.
In cases where other factors required for application of rate schedule or other provisions, are not subject to exact determination or are in question, or in disputed cases relative to service or rate application, the department shall establish such factors by tests, analyses and investigations to determine the proper basis for making an adjustment, if any. Adjustments in the billing shall then be authorized by the director of public service as shown to be proper. Such adjustments shall be subject to review, when requested by the customer or by the city manager. (Ord. 5112 º 16, 1996)
13.08.170 Rate computations.
The rates and charges specified in Sections 13.08.020, 13.08.030, 13.08.050 and 13.08.090 shall not apply to any meter reading taken prior to May 1, 1996. Bills based on meters which are read monthly shall be computed according to the rates set forth in Sections 13.08.020, 13.08.030, 13.08.050 and 13.08.090 for all meters which are read on or after May 1, 1996. Bills based on meters read on a bimonthly basis during the month of May, 1996 shall be computed as follows: The rates set forth in Sections 13.080.020, 13.08.030, 13.08.050, and 13.08.090 shall apply to one-half of the water consumption meter as indicated by said readings, and rates in effect prior to the ordinance codified in this section shall apply to the remaining one-half of the water consumption. Bills based on meters read on a bimonthly basis on or after June 1, 1996 shall be computed according to the rates set forth in Section 13.08.020, 13.08.030, 13.08.050 and 13.08.090. (Ord. 5109 º 5, 1996)
13.08.180 Sunset clause-Rates.
The rates and charges specified in Section 13.08.020, 13.08.030, 13.08.050 and 13.08.090 shall be uniformly reduced by one million three hundred fifty thousand dollars per year when repayment of the funds borrowed from the city of Glendale's investment portfolio for construction of the recycled water facilities is paid in full, and further, by an additional one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars per year or when the legal, engineering and administrative costs (such as staff support, supplies) are no longer required for the city's contribution to the San Fernando Valley groundwater remediation efforts as determined by the city manager or unless otherwise ordained by council. (Ord. 5109 º 6, 1996)