20220810Tariff New 2nd Revisied.pdf

North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 1 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
Applicable:
To all customers for domestic and other uses.
FLAT RATE SERVICE FOR ALL ACCOUNTS:
Water Monthly Base Charge: $71.30
Recurring Charges
Schedule No. 1
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 2 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
Non-Recurring Charges
1.Late Payment Charge- 12 percent per annum or 1% monthly. This charge isapplicable to the unpaid balance at the time of the next billing date.
2.Reconnection Fee - $35.00 for reconnection during business hours of 8:00 am to5:00 pm Monday through Friday excluding legal Holidays. A $70.00 reconnection fee
will be charged after office hours and on all Holidays.
3.Insufficient funds- $20.00 charge for transactions that result in insufficient fundsnotices.
Schedule No. 2
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 3 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS
FOR SMALL WATER UTILITIES
1. GENERAL
1.1 The Customer, in receiving water service, and the Company, in
providing water service, shall both agree to abide by these rules
and regulations.
1.2 In the event that there is a conflict between these rules and
regulations and the Utility Customer Relations Rules (UCRR), the
Rules and Regulations of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission
(Commission) shall take precedence unless an exception has been
granted.
1.3 All recurring and non-recurring charges shall be approved in
advance by the Commission.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 Applicant – a potential customer (person, business or government
agency) applying for service to the Company and subject to the
Commission’s rules and regulations.
2.2 Billing Period - the period of time between bills from the Company
for normal services rendered.
2.3 Commission - Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
2.4 Commodity Charge – a recurring charge based only on the quantity
of water used.
2.5 Company – the water company.
2.6 Connection or Hook-Up Fee – a non-recurring charge paid by a
Customer requesting service for partial or full recovery of the
Company's cost of providing a new service connection.
2.7 Contribution in Aid of Construction – a non-recurring charge paid
by a Customer or developer to help defray the cost of system
expansion.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 4 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
2.8 Customer - a person, business or government agency responsible
for paying bills and complying with the rules and regulations of the
company.
2.9 Customer Charge – a recurring fixed charge to recover a portion of
the cost of meter reading and billing.
2.10 Fixed or Flat Rate – a recurring charge of a fixed amount, usually in
an unmetered system.
2.11 Franchise Tax – the tax imposed on a Company by a governmental
entity for the privilege of doing business within its boundaries.
2.12 Late Payment Charge – the non-recurring charge levied against any
delinquent balance.
2.13 Minimum Charge – the minimum recurring charge for a billing
period that may or may not include a specified quantity of water.
2.14 Non-recurring Charges – the charges that are not assessed each
billing period.
2.15 Premises – the Customer's property including out buildings which
are normally located on one lot or parcel of ground.
2.16 Rate Schedule - the schedules of all recurring and non-recurring
charges of the Company.
2.17 Reconnection Charge – the charge paid by a Customer to the
Company to restore service after disconnection.
2.18 Recurring Charges – the charges that are assessed each billing
period.
2.19 Tariff – the rate schedules and the rules and regulations which
govern the Company's service.
2.20 Utility Customer Relations Rules (UCRR) - Customer Relations Rules
for Gas, Electric, and Water Public Utilities Regulated by the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission (The Utility Customer Relations Rules) -
IDAPA 31.21.01.000 et seq.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 5 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
3. SERVICE FOR NEW CUSTOMERS
3.1 The Company shall furnish service to applicants within its
certificated service area in accordance with rates and the rules and
regulations approved by the Commission.
3.2 Applicants for water service may be required to sign a standard
form of service application.
3.3 The Company shall not be obligated to provide service at a service
location until any required deposit has been received by the
Company in accordance with the UCRR.
3.4 Special contracts may be required where large investments in
special facilities are necessary to provide the requested service.
The Company may require contribution toward such investment
and establish such minimum charges as are deemed necessary. All
such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the Commission.
3.5 The Company reserves the right to place limitations on the amount
and character of water service it will supply and to refuse service if,
in its opinion:
a. the Company is required to refuse or limit service by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Company;
b. the requested service installation is of larger size than is
necessary to properly serve the premises;
c. the permanency of the building, structure, or institution
requesting to be served is such that the Company's
investment in such service is jeopardized;
d. the depth of the applicant’s service line is less than the
minimum depth required for frost protection;
e. the applicants’ proposed service, main or other appurtenance
does not conform to good engineering design or meet the
standard specifications of the Company; or
f. if the applicant refuses to agree to abide by the rules and
regulations of the Company.
If the Company denies service to an applicant for any reason, it
shall immediately provide the applicant with a written explanation
of its decision in accordance with the UCRR.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 6 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
4. DEPOSITS
4.1 Rules and Regulations regarding deposits can be found in the UCRR.
5. RATES
5.1 Rates charged for water service and supply shall be those published
in the Company's tariff and approved by the Commission.
6. BILLING AND PAYMENT
6.1 All Customers shall be billed on a regular basis as identified on the
applicable rate schedule.
6.2 If the system is metered, the Company shall try to read the meters
prior to each billing unless specified differently on the applicable
rate schedule. If the Company's meter reader is unable to gain
access to the premises to read the meter, or in the event the meter
fails to register, the Company will estimate the Customer's water
consumption for the current billing period based on known
consumption for a prior similar period or average of several periods.
Subsequent readings will automatically adjust for differences
between estimated and actual. Bills based on estimated
consumption shall be clearly marked as “estimated”.
6.3 All bills shall clearly indicate the balance due, and may be due and
payable no less than 15 days after the date rendered. All bills not
paid by due date may be considered delinquent and service may be
disconnected subject to the provisions of the UCRR.
6.4 A Late Payment Charge may be levied against any delinquent
account. All payments received by the next billing date shall be
applied to the Customer's account prior to calculating the Late
Payment Charge.
6.5 The minimum bill or customer charge shall apply when service is
provided for less than one month.
6.6 Owners of premises with one or more condominiums, buildings,
stores, apartments or any other divisions of like or similar character,
all of which are served from one (1) service connection are
responsible for the entire water charges. If the owner desires to
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 7 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
cease being responsible for water bills for such places and desires
that the occupant of each division will be responsible for her or her
respective bill, such transfer of responsibility will not be accepted or
recognized by the Company until the plumbing arrangements of the
building or premises are so changed by the owner or his or her
agent as to permit the Company, to its satisfaction, to serve each
division or occupant separately from the other occupants in the
same building.
6.7 Accounts shall be continued and water bills rendered regularly until
the Company has been duly notified to discontinue service.
7. METERING (If Applicable)
7.1 Meters will be installed by the Company near the Customer's
property line or at any other reasonable location on the Customer's
premises that is mutually agreed upon.
7.2 The Company's representative shall be given access to the
Customer's premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of
obtaining meter readings. In the event of recurring inaccessibility
the Company may, at its option and after notifying the customer,
relocate its metering equipment at the Customer's expense.
7.3 The Company shall be responsible for the maintenance of its
metering equipment. Meters are considered to be sufficiently
accurate if tests indicate that meter accuracy is within +2 percent.
When for any reason a meter fails to register within these limits of
accuracy, the Customer's use of water shall be estimated on the
basis of available data and charges shall be adjusted accordingly.
Corrected bills shall then be sent out to the customer and additional
payment or refund arrangements shall be made in accordance with
the UCRR.
7.4 The Company reserves the right to test and/or replace any meter.
Upon deposit of a "Meter Testing Fee" by a Customer, the Company
will test the Customer's meter. If the test indicates that the meter
over-registers by more than 2 percent, it shall be replaced with an
accurate meter at no cost to the Customer and the "Meter Testing
Fee" shall be refunded and water bills shall be adjusted in
accordance with the UCRR. Meter Testing Fees shall require prior
approval by the Commission.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 8 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
7.5 At the Company's discretion, un-metered Customers may be
converted to metered service if such transition occurs in a planned,
systematic manner without unreasonable discriminations and if the
Company has an approved metered rate.
7.6 The Company will have the right to set meters or other devices
without notice to the Customer for the detection and prevention of
fraud.
7.7 In any building where the meter is to be installed in the basement,
the incoming water pipe must enter the basement at least sixteen
(16) inches from the riser in order that a meter can be set in a
horizontal position in the basement. All pipes to the different parts
of the building or grounds must lead from the riser at least one (1)
foot above the elbow.
8. CUSTOMER PLUMBING AND APPLIANCES
8.1 All plumbing, piping, fixtures and appliances on the Customer's side
of the service connection will be installed and maintained under the
responsibility and at the expense of the Customer or owner of the
premises.
8.2 The plumbing, piping, fixtures and appliances shall be maintained
in conformity with all municipal, state and federal requirements.
The nature and condition of this plumbing, piping and equipment
will be such as not to endanger life or property, interfere with
service to other Customers or permit those with metered services
to divert system water without meter registration.
8.3 A stop-and-waste valve will be installed on the Customer's
plumbing in a place always accessible and so located as to permit
shutting off the water for the entire premises with the least
possible delay.
8.4 All persons having boilers, water tanks or other equipment supplied
by direct pressure from the Company's mains should install a
pressure relief valve, or other device to serve the same purpose, so
as to prevent excess pressure from forcing hot water and/or steam
back into the water meter and mains of the Company. All damage
to the Company's property resulting from the failure to properly
equip plumbing with a relief valve will be billed to the Customer.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 9 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
8.5 The Company is not obligated to perform any service whatever in
locating leaks or other trouble with the customer's piping.
8.6 When the premises served by the Company are also served in any
manner from another water supply of any kind, an approved
backflow prevention device shall be installed at the service
connection. Water service for either stand-by or other purposes
will not be furnished until piping and connections are inspected and
approved by a representative of the Company.
8.7 Property owners will not be allowed to connect the water service of
different properties together.
8.8 All of the Customer's service pipes and fixtures must be kept in
repair and protected from freezing at his or her expense. When
there are leaking or defective pipes or fixtures, the water may be
turned off at the option of the Company until the proper repairs are
made.
9. INSTALLATION OF SERVICE CONNECTIONS
9.1 The service connection is the property of the Company and as such,
the Company is responsible for its installation and maintenance. It
consists of piping, curbstop and valve or meter box and a meter, if
the system is metered. The service connection transmits water
from the Company's water main to a valve or meter box generally
located near the Customer's property line. All piping, valves or
appliances beyond this point shall be the property and
responsibility of the Customer.
9.2 The Company reserves the right to designate the size and location
of the service line, curbstop, meter (if applicable) and meter or
valve box and the amount of space which must be left unobstructed
for the installation and future maintenance and operation thereof.
9.3 Where a service connection is desired for premises on which there
is no permanent structure, the Company will install a service
connection to said premises only upon payment by the applicant of
the estimated cost of said service connection. If within a period of
five (5) years from the installation of said service connection a
permanent structure is erected on the premises, the Company will
refund, with interest, the difference between any approved new
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 10 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
Customer charges in effect at the time of connection, and the
applicant's advance.
9.4 The extra costs of any out-of-the-ordinary circumstances requiring
additional equipment or special construction techniques involved in
the installation of a service connection will be agreed to in advance
by the Customer and the Company.
10. REPLACEMENT OR ENLARGEMENT OF SERVICE CONNECTION
10.1 Unless otherwise provided herein, the Company shall replace or
enlarge service connections at its own expense as follows:
a. whenever it is necessary to change the location of any
service connection due to relocation or abandonment of the
Company's mains; and,
b. for commercial or industrial services where the type or
volume of use has changed and the enlargement will result
in sufficient increase in annual revenue to justify the
enlargement.
10.2 The relocation, enlargement or reduction of service connections for
the convenience of the Customer will be at the expense of the
Customer. Prior to such relocation, enlargement or reduction, the
Customer will deposit the estimated cost thereof with the Company.
Within fifteen (15) days, a refund will be made to the Customer in
the amount by which the estimated cost exceeds the actual cost.
The amount by which the actual cost exceeds the estimated cost
will be due and payable within fifteen (15) days after billing for
such deficiency.
10.3 Enlargement of any service connection will be made only after such
time as the Customer's plumbing inside his or her premises have
been enlarged sufficiently to accommodate the additional capacity.
11. DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION OF SERVICE
11.1 When a Customer desires to discontinue service he shall give notice
to the Company at least two (2) days in advance and be
responsible for all water consumed for the two (2) days after the
date of such notice.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 11 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
11.2 The Company shall discontinue a Customer's service on an
involuntary basis only in accordance with UCRR.
11.3 When it becomes necessary for the Company to involuntarily
discontinue water service to a Customer, service shall be
reconnected only after all bills for service then due have been paid
or satisfactory payment arrangements have been made.
11.4 A reconnection fee may be charged each time a Customer is
disconnected, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and reconnected at
the same premises. The reconnection fee will be paid before service
is restored. Reconnection fees shall not be charged for any
situation or circumstance in which the Customer’s water supply is
disconnected by the Company for its convenience.
11.5 The Company reserves the right at any time, upon notice, to shut
off the water for maintenance or expansion and, in emergencies,
may do so without notice. The Company shall at all times use
reasonable diligence and care to prevent interruption of said water
service.
11.6 Except in the case of an emergency, no one, except an authorized
Company representative, shall turn on or turn off the water on the
Company's side of the service connection.
12. EXTENSION OF WATER MAINS
12.1 The extension of system water mains for the purpose of providing
new service shall be handled in accordance with the “Uniform Main
Extension Rules for Small Water Companies” which is attached to
these Rules and Regulations as an Appendix.
13. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 No customer shall permit any person from another premises to take
water from his or her water service or tap for more than (1) week
without the written permission and consent of the Company.
13.2 No person acting either on his or her own behalf or an agent of any
person, firm, corporation or municipality not authorized by the
Company shall take any water from any fire hydrant on the
Company's system except in the case of an emergency.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 12 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
13.3 No person shall place upon or about any hydrant, gate, box, meter,
meter box or other property of the Company any building material
or other substance so as to prevent free access at all times to the
same.
13.4 Service will be maintained to domestic Customers on a preferential
basis. Delivery of water under all schedules may be restricted,
interrupted or curtailed at the discretion of the Company in case of
shortage or threatened shortage of water.
13.5 No rate contract or application is assignable from one user to
another, except upon agreement of all parties concerned.
13.6 The Company representative shall be given access to the premises
of the Customer at all reasonable hours for obtaining meter
readings, for turning on or shutting off the flow of water, for
inspecting, removing, repairing or protecting from abuse or fraud
any of the property of the Company installed on the premises.
Access shall be granted at all times for emergency purposes.
13.7 No one shall tamper or interfere with the Company’s equipment or
property, nor shall repairs, connections or replacements be made
without the Company authorization.
13.8 Whenever an applicant desires service of a character for which
there is no available service classification, a contract may be
executed in lieu of a tariff. Any such contract shall be subject to
the approval of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
13.9 Copies of the Company's rates and summary of rules and
regulations shall be available at the Company’s office and provided
to customers upon commencement of service, and annually
thereafter in accordance with the UCRR.
North Star Water, LLC
Sheet 13 Revision 1
Issued by North Star Water, LLC
Mike Black, Managing Member
Issued
Effective
14. Special Provisions or Amendments