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Water Conservation Key to New Rates Proposed to the JEA Board
Jacksonville, FL (February 17, 2004) - At the urging of the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), JEA staff is proposing a new rate aimed at reducing excessive water use by residential customers and expanding reclaimed water to new residential developments in St. Johns County.
JEA staff proposes a conservation rate for water that would take effect October 1, following through on permitting agreements being negotiated with the SJRWMD. SJRWMD, which regulates water withdrawals from the aquifer, has been encouraging JEA and other utilities to adopt higher rates based on volume to promote water conservation.
The average household uses about 6,600 gallons of water a month. Under the JEA proposal, customers using more than 22,000 gallons each month would pay $4.01 per thousand gallons for any overage, compared to $1.28 per thousand gallons for the same amount today.
Less than 3 percent (6,000) of JEA's 200,000 water customers in the Jacksonville area would be affected based on current use and then only if they do not curtail their water use to under 22,000 gallons a month.
"The aquifer recharges just so much water a year and the conservation rate provides an incentive for high-end users to reduce consumption," said JEA CEO Walt Bussells. "If everyone uses a reasonable amount, we can avoid having to build expensive surface water treatment facilities and still have enough water for our growing community."
JEA staff also plans to extend reclaimed water to large residential developments (Developments of Regional Impact, or DRIs) in St. Johns County. Reclaimed water is processed for irrigation only and contains a high concentration of nitrogen and other building blocks for agricultural use. It is already provided by JEA to some commercial customers in the Jacksonville area, including golf courses and parks.
"Extending the use of reclaimed water will allow these residential developments in St. Johns County to move forward and at the same time reduce the amount of water we take from the aquifer for irrigation," Bussells said.
Reclaimed water rates would be the same as those offered for drinking (potable) water.
Other recommendations include:
- Eliminating the sale of irrigation meters after October, in conjunction with the expansion of reclaimed water;
- Introducing a new "balanced bill" option, a 12-month pilot project designed for general services (small residential and commercial) electric customers. The project will involve about 2,000 select customers; and
- Introducing a one-time fee of $120 for temporary electricity required for residential construction, rather than requiring contractors to pay for meter installation on site.
The proposals come after a yearlong staff review of water and electric rates. The JEA Board is required to hold a rate hearing prior to the adoption of the conservation water rate.
This is the fourteenth consecutive year that JEA has not had a general rate increase.
JEA is the eighth largest community-owned electric utility in America, providing electric, water and sewer services to more than 750,000 accounts in Northeast Florida.
JEA Water Conservation Rates (Residential)
| Volume (Gallons) |
Current Price per 1,000 gallons |
Proposed Rate per 1,000 gallons |
| 1 - 11,000 |
78 cents |
Unchanged |
| 11,000 - 22,000 |
97 cents |
Unchanged |
| 22,000 and up |
$1.28 |
$4.01 - proposed Conservation |
| Rate* |
* -- Also applies to irrigation meters, one inch and smaller
New Retail (residential) Reclaimed Water Rates
New Rate for St. Johns County Developments of Residential Impact (DRIs)
| Volume (Gallons) |
Current Price per 1,000 gallons |
Proposed Rate per 1,000 gallons** |
| 1 - 22,000 |
none/new category |
97 cents |
| 22,000 and up |
none/new category |
$1.28 |
** Pays the same monthly rate as drinking (potable) water plus $6 a month for annual JEA inspection, required by the Florida Environmental Protection Division.
Note: The monthly base charges for water and electric remain unchanged.
Residential Irrigation Meters
No new Residential irrigation meters will be installed after October 1, 2004
Industrial Pretreatment (IPT) Permit Enforcement
There will be a new $100 fee for those Industrial Pretreatment (IPT) IPT customers who have administrative violations. They will be allowed one violation without being charged the fee. They will be charged the fee for subsequent violations. (IPT customers are typically large manufacturing companies.)
Wholesale Water and Sewer Rates
A wholesale water & sewer rate will be developed to supply service to the new City of Jacksonville Water and Sewer Expansion Authority (WSEA)
Administrative Changes to Electric Rates
JEA will continue to maintain its low and stable rates for all customer classes.
Interruptible/Curtailable
The current low rates paid by these customers will not change. JEA will adjust the charges during Peaking times to reflect JEA's current cost to operating Peaking units.
| Current |
$0.0185/kwh fuel charge + $0.07721/kwh energy charge during Peaking periods. |
| New |
$0.0185/kwh fuel charge + $0.1025/kwh energy charge during Peaking periods. |
Optional Balanced Rate
JEA will offer a Balanced Rate option to its Residential and smallest, non-demand customers. This rate will allow the customer to pay the same bill every month. There is not a "true-up" at the end of the year. JEA will account for the risk of the customer varying his usage and/or JEA costs changing during the year.
One Time Residential Temporary Service Fee
Change charges for temporary electric service for residential construction to a one time fee (per home).
Wholesale Transmission
JEA is evaluating the charges for wholesale, utility to utility transmission of electricity. This will not affect retail customers.
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