Red Hook WatchIndependent Community Resource

Water Rates, Fees, and Billing Policy

2023last touched · 14 source resolutions
↑Village/Rules/Policies/Adopted/water_rates_and_billing
Governs the schedule of metered water service rates, connection fees, hook-up fees, surcharges, payment plans, leak adjustments, lien authority, and reconnection fees.
In force, by year of last update
2023
Water Leak Adjustment Policy
A water leak adjustment policy is in effect, approved by the Board with adjustments as discussed at the April 27, 2023 meeting.[14]
2022
Hydrant Fill Charges — Pool Filling
Hydrant fill charges for pool filling are established as follows: $918.00 for 30,000 gallons, $750.00 for 24,000 gallons, $387.00 for 12,000 gallons, and $200.00 for 6,000 gallons. The pool filling rate schedule was subsequently removed effective August 8, 2022.[2][12]
Base Water Rate — Minimum Charge
The minimum charge/base usage rate for metered water service is $69.00 per billing period, as established under the tiered rate schedule.[7][12]
Senior Citizen Base Water Rate
The minimum charge/base usage rate for eligible senior citizens is $59.00 per billing period.[7][12]
Tiered Per-Gallon Water Charges
Usage above the base tier is billed at graduated per-gallon rates of $0.002850, $0.003750, and $0.004750 for successive consumption tiers.[7][12]
Late Payment Penalties
A penalty of 5% is assessed on unpaid water balances at 30 days past due, with an additional 5% penalty assessed at 60 days past due.[12]
Tapping Fees
Revised tapping fees are established in the Schedule of Rates dated August 8, 2022, with additional charges applicable for road and sidewalk cutting.[4][12]
Water Service Fee Schedule — Adopted Rate Schedule
The Village Board adopted the Schedule of Rates dated August 8, 2022 as the current water rates, codifying the rate schedule with adjustments pursuant to Village Code Section 195-26.[12]
LIHWAP — Low Income Household Water Assistance
The Village is authorized to accept and distribute water assistance payments to eligible low-income households through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The Mayor is directed to sign the required NYS forms to participate in the program.[11]
Residential Payment Plan for Past-Due Water Bills
The Village of Red Hook offers a Residential Payment Plan allowing residents who are past due on water payments to pay off their balances based on their individual financial circumstances. The plan is available to Village water customers upon application.[13]
2016
Water Fee — General Service Fee
A water fee of $50.00 is established to reflect expenses incurred by the Village when providing water services.[9]
2012
Water Charges as Lien on Real Property
Water charges and penalties thereon shall be a lien upon the real property upon which the water is used and may be collected in accordance with § 11-1118 of the Village Law of the State of New York.[5]
2009
Water Reconnection Fee
The fee for turning water back on (reconnection) is $125.00.[2]
2008
Water Hook-Up Application Fee
The new water hook-up application fee is $2,000.00.[1]
History · superseded or expired
2017
Quarterly Water Rate Increases — Phase II Bonding
Authorized a 3% per quarter water rate increase over 8 quarters beginning March 2016 to address bonding costs for Phase II of the water project. The program expired by October 2017, and the final scheduled increase was forfeited by resolution.[8][10]
Final Quarterly Rate Increase Waiver
The last scheduled quarterly water rate increase was forfeited in recognition of $2,280,000 in Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (DWII) grants awarded to the Village. This completed and closed the 8-quarter rate increase program.[10]
2013
Water Rates Conversion — Cubic Feet to Gallons
Amended Chapter 195 Part 2 to establish a rate schedule reflecting conversion from cubic feet to gallons, effective October 1, 2013, with a minimum charge of $45.00 for usage up to 5,610 gallons and tiered rates above that. Superseded by the 2014 and 2022 rate schedules.[6]
2011
Monthly Water Surcharge — Central Hudson Billing Error Recovery
A $5.00 monthly water surcharge was implemented for all water customers effective June 2011 billing to recover costs from Central Hudson's meter billing error on well pump electric meters. Superseded by the 2022 rate schedule adoption.[3]
Water Service Rates — 2011 Schedule
Water service rates effective June 1, 2011: water sample to lab $45.00, water shut off $50.00, water turn on $50.00, location of water lines $50.00, water meter read $25.00, new tapping fees $2,500.00 ($3,000.00 if highway installation required). Superseded by the 2022 rate schedule.[4]
Source resolutions
  1. [1]2008-12-08Increase water hook-up application fee
  2. [2]2009-08-20Water reconnection fee and hydrant fill charges
  3. [3]2011-05-19Monthly water surcharge implementation
  4. [4]2011-05-19New water service rates schedule
  5. [5]2012-01-09Local Law No. 1-2012 — Water Code Amendment Addition to § 195-6 Payment for Metered Water Service
  6. [6]2013-08-05Water Rates Conversion
  7. [7]2014-05-12Adoption of Water Fee Schedule and Rate Increase
  8. [8]2016-02-08Water Rate Increase
  9. [9]2016-10-17Water Fee
  10. [10]2017-11-13Water rate increase waiver
  11. [11]2022-03-14LIHWAP Program Authorization
  12. [12]2022-08-08Water Rates and Fee Schedule
  13. [13]2022-09-12RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF A RESIDENTIAL PAYMENT PLAN FOR PAST DUE WATER BILLS
  14. [14]2023-04-27Water Leak Adjustment Policy

Synthesized from the chronological history of these resolutions. Each clause shows the year it was last established or amended. The text is a reading aid — for legal force, consult the source resolutions and the Village Code.