RATES: Changes effective Jan. 1

On January 1, 2012, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's rates and billing structure is changing. Here is a summary to help you better understand the changes.

No more minimum charge
Before 2012, users were charged a for 1,000 cubic feet of water (1 MCF, or 7,480 gallons) of water consumption, even if their actual usage was lower. This year, that minimum charge is eliminated and replaced by a base charge of $5.85, which means those who use less than 1 MCF per quarter initially will see a decrease in their sewer bills. View the rate schedule

Higher Homestead discount
Increasing the Homestead Program rate reduction from 33% to 40%, which will assist low-income seniors and customers will disabilities. The income limit for Homestead applicants in 2012 will be $30,500. Read more

New Affordability program
We are adding a Wastewater Affordability Program to our cost-saving programs offerings to benefit those with income level at/below 200% Federal poverty level (e.g. Family of four < $44,700). Learn about all of our cost-saving programs | View all Affordability Program income limits

Crisis Assistance program coming in late 2012
We are designing a Crisis Assistance Program (e.g. Medical expenses, job loss) which will be detailed in late 2012.

To learn more about what to expect in your first bills of 2012, contact us or our Customer Service department at (216) 881-8247.

ASK US: "I shut off my water. Why do I have sewer charges?"

Our Ask Us! page recently received the following email from a customer who spends several months a year out west:

I spend the winter in Arizona. I shut my water off but I still have sewer charges. Is there any way of avoiding these charges since i'm not using my water for almost 8 months?

It's a good question. The direct answer is "No," but I'll quickly follow-up by saying, "but here's what we're doing..."

First, a bit of background: For most customers, we bill based on water-meter readings (water consumption, measured in MCF which is 1,000 cubic feet or 7,480 gallons) because most water entering the home eventually exits into a sewer. A typical customer account uses 1.875 MCF per quarter, or about 14,025 gallons of water. Many customers use less than 1 MCF per quarter, but through 2011, our accounting method has assessed accounts a 1 MCF minimum charge, even when the actual metered consumption was less than 7,480 gallons. We shared some of the reasons for the minimum charge during our 2011 series of public rate meetings.

That is changing January 1, 2012 to the benefit of many small users, and even for special circumstances like our Ask Us! emailer.

As we presented last spring, our fee structure is changing in 2012, replacing the 1 MCF minimum (about $30-50, depending on your community) with a $5.85 base fee plus the actual metered-consumption charge.

Here's an example.

A small user in Cleveland, based on .63 MCF over a three-month period in 2011, would be charged for a full 1 MCF, or $44 for the quarter. Starting next year, that same customer—based on the $5.85 charge and actual consumption charges—would pay $37 per quarter. The charges will be based on actual consumption, rather than the 1 MCF minimum.

And that example doesn't even take our expanded cost-saving programs into account.

The 1 MCF minimum charge had been a significant challenge for many customers. As we reviewed our rate options last year, eliminating this charge and instituting a base fee was an opportunity to serve our customers while enabling us to meet the funding challenges ahead.

CUSTOMERS: Call volumes higher as interest in savings programs grows

Call volumes to our Customer Service department are higher this week as residents are applying for and requesting details about the Sewer District's expanded cost-saving programs.

Last Thursday, the Sewer District began mailing its letter to customers explaining the 2012 rate schedule and new program offerings, and residents began receiving those letters yesterday.

Our Customer Service representatives are working efficiently to answer customers' questions. You may also visit our Ask Us! page to submit your question online.

No more minimum charge? What it could mean for customers

Among the sewer rate changes being discussed at our public meetings is our proposed elimination of our minimum charge, a move made to address the most common concern from our customers. Here's a simple explanation and an example of how some of our users will benefit most.

First rate-information meeting Wednesday night in Maple Heights

Tomorrow night's rate-information meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Maple Heights library. We will present the Sewer District's proposed 2012 rate schedule and new affordability program, and take applications for our Homestead and Summer Sprinkling programs. We will post the rate proposal and presentation at neorsd.org/rates tomorrow and we plan to live-tweet the discussion on our official @neorsd Twitter account. We will also hold five other meetings through May.

Rates, new affordability programs will be focus of public meetings

To keep the public informed about anticipated sewer rate increases for 2012 through 2016 and new affordability programs, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has scheduled a series of public meetings that will begin next month.

Public meeting series begins April 5 to present rate, project details

The Sewer District will present a series of meetings beginning in April to share project information, as well as rate and affordability program details, across our service area. All meetings are open to the public, and times and locations are listed after the jump.

January 1 begins final year of current rate schedule

The Sewer District's 2011 rates, which take effect January 1, are the final phase of a multiple-year rate program approved by Trustees in 2008. A 2012-2016 rate study is nearing completion which will offer recommendations for rate adjustments and affordability programs early next year.

Summer Sprinkling program customers: Adjustments underway

We recognize that some Summer Sprinkling Program customers may not have received their discounts for the 2010 summer season. Last month, we mailed a letter to Summer Sprinkling Program customers to explain the issue and our response to the situation.