SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 5888

               As Passed Senate, March 14, 1995

Title:  An act relating to considerations for charges for sewerage and storm water control systems.

Brief Description:  Revising considerations for charges for sewerage and storm water control systems.

Sponsors:  Senator Sutherland.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Energy, Telecommunications & Utilities:  2/23/95, 2/27/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/14/95, 44-4.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner and Hochstatter.

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786-7445)

Background:  Counties and cities are separately authorized to provide various utility services, including water, sewerage and storm water control services.  These local governments are also authorized to fix the rates and charges of these services.

In setting rates, the legislative bodies of local governments may classify customers based on various factors.  These factors include the difference in cost to serve or maintain service to classes of customers, the difference in quantity or quality of the service provided, capital contributions to the system, and other similarly related differences.

Concern has been raised that local governments may lack the statutory authority to allow different rates for customer classes that require large capacity coupled with proportionately smaller usage.

Summary of Bill:  When county governments fix rates for water, sewerage and storm water control services, customers may be classified by the nonprofit public benefit status of the land user.  When cities or towns fix rates for systems of sewerage, customers may be classified by the nonprofit public benefit status of the land user.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.