YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
AS A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER OF
WINTERPORT
WATER DISTRICT

We welcome you as a valued customer of the Winterport Water District. This booklet is provided for our existing and new residential customers. It contains a summary of your rights and responsibilities as required under Chapter 810 of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).

The purposes of this Chapter are:

To assure safe and adequate provision of residential utility service;
To assure that service is not disconnected or refused unreasonably; and
To assure the utility's right to collect proper bills for residential utility service.

Every privilege that is granted and every duty that is required by this Chapter imposes an obligation on utilities, applicants and customers to accept these privileges and perform these duties with good faith, honesty and fairness.

Throughout this booklet, the terms "we" or "us" refer to the Winterport Water District. The term "you" refers to the applicant or customer.

 

PAYMENT LOCATION
Main Office
34 Sampson Street
Winterport, Maine
(Also equipped with mail slot for after hours)

Application for Service

No Discrimination Allowed
When you apply for service from us, we will treat you fairly. You may be required to complete an application form or answer some important questions prior to service installation.

No matter what country you come from, what sex or race you are, whether you are single or married, young or old, we will either agree to provide the service you ask for or deny it within three (3) work days after you ask for the service.

If we deny service, we will send you the reasons in writing and tell you what you can do about it.

Cost of Service
When you apply for service, we will tell you about the basic minimum service costs, about one-time costs such as installation fees and how much they are.

If you have any questions about the cost of your service or the difference between the basic service and optional services, call us at (207) 223-5028.

Our rates must be approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission. We cannot change these rates without the approval of the MPUC. You have the right to review and comment on our proposed rates before the MPUC approves or disapproves any changes.

Old Unpaid Bills
When you apply for service, we will check to see if you have had service with us before. If you have an unpaid bill, we will ask you to pay it or make a payment arrangement. We are allowed to request payment of bills that are up to six (6) years old. We cannot ask you to pay anyone else's bills -- only those bills in your name or bills a court has said you are responsible for.

If you dispute the old bill or you are unable to agree with us about a reasonable payment plan, see the "Complaint" section on page 10.

Deposits  Table of Contents
We can ask for a deposit only if there is some proof that you will be a credit risk, that is, that you may not pay your future bills. In most cases, "proof that you will be a credit risk" is shown if you have an unpaid bill when you apply for service or you have been disconnected for nonpayment, unauthorized use or theft of services.

These are not all the situations in which we can require a deposit. You have the right to show us evidence that you can and will pay your future bills and avoid a deposit request.
 

When We Require a Deposit

 We must inform you in writing.

We must tell you what you can do to begin or continue service.

You can ask for proof that you are a credit risk.

We will tell you what to do if you disagree with the deposit request or amount.

We will pay interest on your deposit.

We will give you a choice between a cash deposit and allowing another person to "guarantee" your bills to the deposit amount. The guarantor must be a customer in good standing with us.

Deposit Amount; Payment Options
We can require a deposit that is equal to your anticipated bills for two billing periods.

You can usually have a choice to pay the deposit in full or in three (3) payments, with half the total due immediately, 25% in 30 days and 25% in 60 days. However, we may require a full payment of a deposit if you are already using a payment plan to pay off an unpaid bill.

Return of Deposit
We will return your deposit with interest if you pay your bills on time for 12 consecutive months.

Bills  Table of Contents

Billing Schedules
We mail bills quarterly for annual customers. We reserve the right to bill monthly.
 

Water consumption
Water bills are based on water consumption, measured by a water meter in your basement or utility closet. Most locations are equipped with meters which can be read from the outside of the building.

Water Charges
Most residential locations are equipped with a 5/8-inch meter. Currently, the minimum quarterly charge for this size meter is $86.05. Under the minimum charge, you are allowed up to 9 hundred cubic feet, and the water charge is $6.82 per hundred cubic feet thereafter. One hundred cubic feet of water is approximately 748 gallons.

Estimated Bills
We will try to send you a bill based on your actual usage, but we can send you estimated bills for service. We will not send you two (2) estimated bills in a row, except during extreme weather conditions, emergencies, work stoppages or similar circumstances that would prevent our employees from reading your meter, or if you receive bills on a seasonal basis.

Make-up Bills
If we have to issue a make-up bill for past service that you were not billed for, we will offer you a payment plan. If the reason for the make-up bill is our fault (equipment failure or our billing error, for example), you will be billed for only one (1) year of past service even if the billing mistake was for a longer time.

Previous Bills
If you ask for it, we will give you a record of your usage going back a maximum of 13 months.

Third-party Notice of Bills and Notices
Let us know if you want another person to get a copy of any bill or disconnection notice we send you. We will send a copy to the person you designate, but you are still responsible for payment. This service may be especially important for our elderly, disabled and handicapped customers.

Water Questions
If you have any questions about the cost of water and sewer service, you can call us at 223-5028. Our water rates must be approved by the MPUC and we cannot change these rates without approval of the MPUC. You have the right to review and comment on the proposed rates before the MPUC rules.

Accuracy of Meters
We test your meter regularly to make sure it is operating correctly. The Maine Public Utilities Commission establishes the schedule of required meter tests and the accuracy standards that a meter must meet. If you want your meter tested for accuracy, we will do so at no extra cost to you. If you ask more often than once every 18 months, we will charge you a reasonable fee for this test. You have the right to be present when the meter is tested, but you have to make an appointment.

You can check the accuracy of your bill and monitor your own usage by reading the meter yourself. Call and ask us for information on how to read your meter.

Payments
If you mail your payment to us, your bill is considered paid on the day we receive it. If you come to our office, your bill is considered paid on the day you make the payment. If you make a partial payment, we will apply it to the oldest balance due.

You can pay your bill by mail using or in person.

We accept payment by cash, check or money order. If you have more than two dishonored checks, we may send you a notice that will require future payments in cash or certified check only.

Financial Assistance
Low income customers may qualify for help to pay a utility bill. We can help refer you to available programs but the best source of information is your local Community Action Agency. Call the Citizens Assistance Line at the Division of Community Assistance (1-800-452-4617) for the name and number of your local agency. Contact our business office for programs offered.

Payment Plans  Table of Contents
We will continue service even if you can't pay your account in full, as long as you pay a reasonable portion of your bill and you agree to pay the rest in affordable weekly or monthly payments. You must also agree to pay all future bills within 30 days of the postmark until the overdue amount is paid in full.

We will consider the following issues when establishing a payment plan:

• Your ability to pay.

• Your previous payment history.

• The reason why the bill can't be paid.

• How long the bill has remained unpaid.

• Whether disconnection would pose a danger to your household.

• We will send you a written copy of the payment arrangement.

If you do not make payments according to a written payment plan, we can send you a disconnection notice that gives you three (3) business days to pay the full overdue amount. We are not required to make a second arrangement, but we will try to respond to your particular situation.

You do not have to agree to a payment plan or any other proposed settlement of a dispute if doing so means giving you other rights listed in this booklet. Contact our business office for payment plans.

Disconnection  Table of Contents
We don't want to disconnect your service. We will work with you to resolve problems. However, if a customer refuses to cooperate, we have the right to start disconnection procedures when:

• You fail to pay or make a payment plan for an overdue bill.

• You don't keep a written payment plan.

• You fail to pay a deposit, arrange to pay for it or provide someone who is willing to guarantee payment.

• You fail to pay, or make a payment arrangement for an overdue water bill that is greater than $l00.00 or a combined sewer and water bill greater than $181.94 and is more than 30 days old.

• You refuse to let us onto your property to install or read a meter or inspect or repair company property.

• You have tampered with the meter, made it inaccessible or somehow managed to obtain service without payment.

• You misrepresented who you are to get service.

• You fail to comply with a decision of the Maine Public Utilities Commission or its Consumer Assistance Division.

• You have a cross connection violation.

We Are Not Allowed to Disconnect For:

• Non-basic service charges, such as for merchandise or services not regulated by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

• An old bill that was not properly transferred to your account when you applied for service.

• Estimated usage. But we can disconnect for this if you have refused to allow us to read a meter or you have refused to provide an actual reading on our form.

• We will not disconnect if you or a doctor notify us of a medical emergency (see page 9).

If you are a tenant and if your landlord asks us to disconnect or if your landlord does not pay the bill, we will issue you a tenant notice and opportunity to put service in your own name. You do not have to pay the landlord's unpaid bill.

Disconnect Notice
In most cases, we will notify you in writing at least 14 days before a stated disconnection date. But we can give you only three (3) working days notice if you've broken a payment plan, failed to pay a deposit, paid with a bad check or received service without applying to become a customer. We can disconnect without notice only if there is unauthorized use (meter tampering) or a dangerous condition.

A notice is good for ten (10) business days after the disconnection date stated on it.

The disconnection notice will tell you what to do to avoid disconnection and how you can dispute your bill or the disconnection itself.

We will not disconnect service on a Friday, a weekend, a legal holiday, the day before a holiday or on any day our office is not open for business.

When You Want Service Disconnected
You must give us at least seven (7) days notice when you want to disconnect your service. We can bill you for service until you give the required notice or we disconnect, whichever is first.
 

Reconnection  Table of Contents
We must reconnect service again promptly -- during the business hours on the same day you ask, or at the latest during the next business day -- provided you have paid your overdue bill or have agreed to a payment plan. This payment plan will be based on your previous payment history. We can also charge you a deposit equal to two billing periods if you are disconnected for nonpayment, unauthorized use or theft of service. When both a deposit and the unpaid bill are required, you can pay the smaller amount in full and enter a payment plan on the larger amount. See page 3 for fees charged for reconnection. We can also require a deposit equal to two quarter's service if you are disconnected for non-payment, unauthorized use, or theft of service. When both a deposit and the unpaid bill are required, you may pay the smaller amount in full and enter a payment agreement on the larger amount.

Medical Emergencies  Table of Contents
We will not disconnect service or refuse to reconnect it when you or someone in your house is seriously ill, provided a registered physician confirms that an emergency exists. If you cannot get a doctor to call right away, you may let us know yourself. We will wait three (3) working days for the doctor to call or write us. We can require written certification from the doctor, including specific reasons why service is necessary and how long the emergency will last. Disconnection can be postponed due to a medical emergency for up to 30 days, and can be renewed up to 90 days.

A medical emergency does not cancel the bill. We will refer you to financial assistance agencies and ask you to negotiate a reasonable payment plan.

Interruption of Service  Table of Contents
We may need to interrupt your service on occasion to repair or maintain our equipment. When possible, we will let you know why and how long you can expect to be without service.

If we plan to interrupt service to more than ten (10) customers or for more than three (3) hours, we must give you at least 24 hours notice. We will give you more notice whenever possible. If your service must be interrupted without notice for more than three (3) hours due to storms or other emergencies, we will try to let you know as soon as possible how long you are likely to be without service.

If being without service would pose a danger to any member of your household (presence of a life support system, for example), notify us. We will put you on a priority list to restore service as soon as possible.

Liability and Abatement of Interrupted Service  Table of Contents
We are not responsible for damage caused by discolored water or unsatisfactory water service resulting from the cleaning of pipes or storage facilities; or from the opening or closing of any valves or hydrants; unless the damage was caused by our lack of reasonable care. We are also not responsible for meeting unusually high water quality standards for specializing or industrial customers.

You may apply for a pro-rated reduction on your minimum bill if your service is interrupted for more than 48 hours through no fault of your own.

Please contact our office for information about interrupted or unsatisfactory service.

Complaints  Table of Contents
If you have any questions or complaints, call us. We will have at least one employee available during business hours to answer your questions, set up payment plans and resolve disputes. We will investigate your complaint and try to resolve it.

If you disagree with our answer, you have a right to appeal to the Consumer Assistance Division (CAD) of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, 18 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0018. You can call the CAD at 287-3831 or toll free at 800-452-4699. Before you call or write the Commission, you must give us a chance to respond to your complaint.

We cannot disconnect you for a disputed amount, but you do have to pay the portion of the bill that is not in dispute. If you contact us before the service is disconnected and we cannot agree on a payment plan or other requirement to stop disconnection, you can appeal to the MPUC as described above.

 

Water Rates (effective January 2011):

$86.05 quarterly minimum (5/8” meter) based on 9 hundred cubic feet

$6.82 per 1 hundred cubic feet after first 9 hundred cubic feet

Sewer Rates (effective January 2009):

$90.00 quarterly minimum based on 12 hundred cubic feet
$45.00 Debt Service Charge (Amount That Pays for the District's loans)

$7.55 per 1 hundred cubic feet after first 9 hundred cubic feet

Minimum Combined Quarterly bill:  $221.05