Each year more than 300 customers inform Colorado Springs Utilities about a large water leak resulting in a high water bill. Water leaks on the customer’s property are the responsibility of the customer. However we know that unexpectedly high bills can create a difficult situation for people. In March 2011, we asked City Council to approve a pilot adjustment rate to assist customers with high bills due to water leaks. The pilot went in effect April 1, 2011.
Key Facts:
- Customers do not generally know they have a significant leak.
- A continuously running toilet is a common cause for large volume leaks. It’s sometimes difficult to know your toilet is leaking since the water flows out of sight into the drain. Other types of leaks can also go undetected.
- Since water is billed by the amount of water going through the customer’s meter, a leak can result in thousands of cubic feet of water being used without the customer’s knowledge.
- The resulting water bill can be hundreds, or even thousands of dollars.
- Previous tariffs did not allow Springs Utilities to adjust water bills for leaks.
- The new adjustment rate allows Springs Utilities to adjust the customer’s bill for qualifying leaks.
How the pilot adjustment rate works:
- The water leak must be confirmed by Springs Utilities and the amount of the leak needs to be determined.
- The leak must be repaired before an adjustment can be made.
- A maximum of two adjustments per customer can be made in a three year period.
- The leak must be reported to Springs Utilities within 60 days of the bill due date for the billing period when the leak occurred.
- For residential customers:
- Utilities can adjust a residential customer’s bill using the lowest (Tier 1) water rate. The current residential rate for 2,500+ cubic feet of water used in a month (Tier 3) is 6.91 cents per CF. The new program would allow Utilities to reduce the rate charged to the Tier 1 rate of 2.51 cents per CF.
- The first 20,000 CF will be billed at the tier 1. The volume of water above 20,000 CF will be billed at the tier 2 rate.
- Customers will need to complete the water leak adjustment form and return the form to Colorado Springs Utilities within 60 days of the billing due date of the leak.
- For non-residential customers:
- Utilities can adjust a commercial customer’s bill 50% of the commodity amount of the estimated leak can be adjusted at the tariff rate.
- The maximum leak amount that can be adjusted is 40,000 CF which means a possible adjustment up to 20,000 CF.
- Customers will need to complete the water leak adjustment form and return the form to Colorado Springs Utilities within 60 days of the billing due date of the leak.
- For industrial customers:
- Utilities can adjust 50% of the estimated leak at the tariff rate as a credit on the bill. Industrial customers will want to contact Colorado Springs Utilities for more information if they experience a leak.
- See Utilities Rules and Regulations sheet number 16 for additional details.
Request an adjustment due to a water leak.