Hist and Proj Operating Receipts FY 2011 2 17 2010 - DC Water

A large amount of activity regarding rates occurred in FY 2009 including rulemaking adjustments and three (3) public hearings held
throughout the fiscal year. The first public hearing in FY 2009 was on the expansion of the customer assistance program that
provides discounts to eligible low-income customers. While this did not change the FY 2009 retail rates, it did represent a change to
the policies and practices for future rate consideration and, therefore, was debated in an open, transparent process.
An additional public hearing was held on the proposed impervious area charge (lAC) that had been in development for almost 15
months prior to the actual pubic hearing. In both FY 2008 and FY 2009, extensive outreach and communication was held to ensure
the greatest amount of public understanding. In addition to numerous meetings with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs),
Civic Associations, environmental groups, all members of the City Council, various business and trade associations, universities,
hospitals, church associations, Amtrak and Metro, numerous articles were included in the monthly newsletter inserts with the
customer bills, frequently asked questions and special information on lAC were developed and placed on the website and notices
were sent repeatedly to a variety of listservs. In FY 2009 alone, 25 public meetings were held on the topic of lAC. The required legal
publications were also provided. A variety of public witnesses attended the public hearing representing ANCs, environmental groups
and other organizations or individuals. The proposal was covered by local and national TV, radio and news media. The lAC
implemented on May 1, 2009, included both the introduction of a new, separate charge and the reduction of the existing sewer retail
rate so that overall, there was not revenue increase for DC WASA; merely a shift in how the revenue is collected and used.
The final public hearing was held in June 2009 on the proposed retail rates fee increases for FY 2010. After the fall 2008 review of
the proposed rates, the DC WASA Board submitted the recommendation for public review and comment. The public hearing was
published in the April 24, 2009 DC Register, The Washington Post, Washington Times, Washington Informer, Northwest Current,
Afro-American, Hill Rag, EI-Tiempo Latino and a wide variety of listserv notifications. DC WASA held four public meetings, (one in
each quadrant), that were publicized in the various newspapers throughout the City and participated in additional community
meetings leading up to the public hearing. A variety of community members testified at the June 2009 public hearing representing
individuals, environmental groups, ANCs, and tenant groups. The Retail Rates Committee of the Board met on two subsequent
occasions to review the proposal and public feedback and identify every opportunity to reduce the rate impact to the retail customer.
In September 2009, the Board of Directors approved a 9 percent increase retail rate increase and an lAC rate of $2.20 to be effective
October 1, 2009. This final approval reduced the recommended retail rate increase by 1 percent (from 10 to 9 percent).
ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS TO INCREASE TIMELY SHARING OF INFORMATION AND
PROCESSING OF SELF-SERVICE TRANSACTIONS
eCheck - With the support of our vendor, we implemented an additional self-service option, (e-check). This option provides yet,
another convenient way for customers to pay their bills without incurring any charge. DC WASA already offers several convenient
payment options including postal mail, credit card on line and by telephone, walk-In at the customer service center on First St, NW,
automatic bank or credit card account deduction, on line using your check account, or at several bank branches.
Budget Overview and Performance
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