Water district hikes meter fees, stops discount
-A A +AWednesday, March 13, 2013
THE Davao City Water District (DCWD) announced on Tuesday that it will increase monthly meter maintenance charges and suspend the granting of 10 percent discount to consumers paying their bills before due date, starting April 1.
DCWD spokesperson Imelda Magsuci said meter maintenance charges, used to be called as the meter rental fees, have been imposed by the water utility since 2006.
"Gi-change nato ang name niya from meter rental fee to meter maintenance charges kay mao man na ang appropriate sa iyaha," Magsuci told Sun.Star Davao in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Other than changing its name, new charges for mechanical and electromagnetic water meters will also be applied according to size.
She said the unit cost of meters has increased through the years and DCWD has been consequently subsidizing a portion of the cost amidst its ballooning operation costs.
Unit cost of meters ranges from P1,200 to P1,300, while the previous rate only costs P900, according to Magsuci.
"Therefore, wala nato na recover ang cost ana. Subsidize siya. Atoang i-increase para ma-recover ang cost sa metrohan nga P1,200 to P1,300," she said, adding that this will take effect starting April 1.
The increase, she said, will appear in the May billing. This will be the first time DCWD has increased the meter rental fees since its implementation in 2006.
In a statement, DCWD acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado said "thorough deliberations have been done and legal requirements have been complied for the implementation of these changes."
DCWD said Board Resolution 12-606 issued last October 19, 2012 provides changes in the meter maintenance charges are based on the acquisition and maintenance costs of meters.
The following new charges for mechanical and electromagnetic water meters according to size will apply: for mechanical meters: 13mm (1/2") -- P21; 20mm (3/4") -- P32; 25mm (1") -- P48; 40mm (1 1/2") -- P129; 50mm (2") -- P230; 100mm (4") -- P615; 150mm (6") -- P1,278; and 200mm (8") -- P1,532.
B) for electromagnetic meters: 50mm (2") -- P1,723; 100mm (4") -- P2,112; 150mm (6") -- P2,178; and 200mm (8") -- P2,778.
"As in previous years, the payment of the maintenance charges will still be divided into 60 months or five years, payable every month and included in the monthly water bills of all customers," the DCWD said.
Regalado said DCWD has been charging the same water meter rental fee approved on January 3, 1997 through Board Resolution 97-03.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 13, 2013.
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