LOUISA COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

Judson Foster, Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 10, 2020

Contact: Louisa County Water Authority

23 Loudin Lane, Louisa, Virginia 23093

(540) 967-1122

www.louisacountywaterauthority.org

LOUISA COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY – PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 12, 2020  

 LOUISA, VIRGINIA – The Louisa County Water Authority Board of Directors will meet and conduct a public hearing at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, in the Louisa County Office Building; Public Meeting Room, Main Floor, 1 Woolfolk Avenue, Louisa, Virginia.  In accordance with the Authority’s ongoing efforts to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, physical (in-person) access to the County Office Building will be limited to 28 public speakers.  The meeting will be streamed live and the public is encouraged to provide any input for the Public Comment period or Public Hearing either: 1) the first twenty eight (28) people to sign-up may speak in person; 2) in advance (in writing); or 3) during the meeting (via telephone).

PUBLIC HEARING:

 The public hearing is being held to collect feedback from Louisa County Water Authority customers and citizens on four changes to the current rate schedule.  The following changes will be presented at the public hearing:

1) WATER:  The monthly minimum will be reduced from 4,000 gallons per month to 3,000 gallons per month.  This change will provide a monthly cost savings of $3.43 to customers who use less than 3,000 gallons per month.  The water base rate will be increased from $5.89 to $6.71 per 1,000 for customers using more than 3,000 gallons per month. 

2) SEWER:  The monthly minimum will be reduced from 4,000 gallons per month to 3,000 gallons per month.  This change will provide a monthly cost savings of $5.69 to customers who use less than 3,000 gallons per month.  The water base rate will be increased from $8.87 to $9.93 per 1,000 for customers using more than 3,000 gallons per month.

3) Introduction of a monthly administrative fee to help cover the costs for meter reading, bill creation and payment processing.  The new administrative fee will be $6.00 per month.

4) CONSECUTIVE WATERWORKS:  A consecutive waterworks purchasing a minimum of 4,250,000 gallons of water per month will receive a 22.5% discount off of the current prevailing retail water rate per thousand gallons.  The current rate for a consecutive water works is $4.57/1,000 gallons.  The new rate will reflect an increase of .64₵/1,000 gallons or $5.21/1,000 gallons.

“Our intention at this time is to collect feedback from the public on these rate adjustments. The Louisa County Water Authority Board of Directors has not reached a decision on when these adjustments would be applied as we fully understand the current environment and uncertainty still prevalent in our economy. The intent of these adjustments would be to bring operating revenues in line with operating costs and we have meticulously analyzed our operation to the best of our ability to make sure this was necessary. The rate adjustments would allow us to be less dependent on connection fees, which are intended for capital expenditures necessary to maintain and upgrade our systems as they age and the regulatory landscape changes. These adjustments, when implemented, would provide a cost savings for customers using less water and sewer monthly and a cost increase for customers using more water and sewer monthly. The result will be a fairer and more balanced rate schedule for everyone,” Judson Foster, LCWA Chairman.

###