Water/Sewer Bill Leak Adjustment Policy

The City of Martinsburg Water/Sewer Department has been ordered by the WV Public Service Commission Order to establish a policy for the adjustment of water/sewer consistent with WV PSC Rule 6.4.3.

Where the bill reflects unusual usage in excess if 200% of the customer’s historical usage that can be attributed to leakage on the customer’s side of the meter the City of Martinsburg will adjust the bill.  This policy shall be maintained in the utility’s office for inspection by the public and shall be applied in a non-discriminatory manner to all customers.  This policy is filed with the Commission as a part of the utility’s tariff.  The reasonableness of the City’s policy shall be subject to approval by the Commission and the reasonableness of the City’s practice with respect to implementing this policy shall be subject to Commission review in a formal complaint proceeding.

The recalculated bill shall reflect the City of Martinsburg’s incremental cast of treating or purchasing the water, as contained in the City’s tariff for all amounts above 200% of the customer’s historic usage.  Historic usage shall be defined as the average usage of the preceding twelve (12) months.  If using the historic usage would result in an unreasonable calculation, adjustments may be made.  If such adjustments are made, the City would advise its customer that a dispute regarding such adjustment may be taken to the Commission in the form of an informal complaint.  Any amounts which the customer can prove did not enter the sanitary sewer system shall be credited at full tariff rates.

As an alternative to using the incremental cost of treating or purchasing the water, the City of Martinsburg will use an adjustment that allows it to recover the Commission’s estimate of “typical incremental” cost per thousand gallons of water above 200% of the customer’s historic usage.  The Commission shall from time to time establish its estimate of “typical incremental cost” by order.

The water utility shall, after determining that a leak adjustment must be made, notify the sewer utility of the amount of the adjustment in gallons and the reason for making the adjustment.