COUNTY News:
Officials with the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will recommend to the Board of Public Utilities a sewer rate increase to establish sufficient revenue to sustain future debt service to replace the White Rock wastewater treatment plant.
The public hearing is scheduled 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15 in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave.
If approved, proposed Los Alamos Code Ordinance 02-288 will go to the County Council Sept. 25, to be considered for adoption.
Under the proposed ordinance, the monthly service fee for all customers classes will increase from $10.27 to $11.09. In addition to the monthly service fee, the department charges a flat, fixed rate per dwelling unit to residential customers each month for collecting and treating sewage. The collection and treatment charge for single family residential customers will increase from $37.18 to $40.15. For residential customers who are not individually metered such as apartment complexes, the fixed charge per dwelling until will increase from $30.97 to $33.45.
Unlike residential customers, commercial customers are charged a variable rate for the collection and treatment of sewage based on the winter average of potable water consumed with a minimum 2,000 gallons. The proposed ordinance will increase the variable rate from $17.50 to $18.90 per 1,000 gallons.
Los Alamos citizens may provide public comment at the Aug. 15 board meeting, but also on the county’s Open Forum website at https://www.opentownhall.com/6546. Comments will be collected until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12. All comments will be shared with the Board and County Council.
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) operates the county-owned electric, gas, water & wastewater systems under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities. Board meetings are 5:30 p.m., the third Wednesday of the month in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. The public is welcome. Funded by rates paid for electric, gas, water and wastewater services and auxiliary fees, the DPU has provided the community with these services for more than 50 years. CustomerCare@lacnm.us | 505.662.8333 | www.losalamosnm.us/government/departments/UTILITIES.
