PSC 185.12 (22) “Water conservation" means practices, techniques, and technologies that result in a reduction of water use, water loss, or waste, or that improve water use efficiency.
SECTION 9. Section PSC 185.21 (intro.) is renumbered PSC 185.21 (1) (intro.).
PSC 185.21 (1) (title) INCLUDED IN SCHEDULES.
PSC 185.21 (2) RATES FOR WATER SERVICE. (a) A public utility shall adopt general service water rates that do all of the following:
1. Reflect the cost of service for each class of customer.
2. Include a fixed charge based on the size of the meter.
3. Include a volume charge based on actual customer consumption.
(b) A public utility may not adopt a rate under par. (a) if the commission finds that the rate is discriminatory or otherwise not in the public interest.
(c) The commission may approve rates that promote efficient water use.
SECTION 12. Section PSC 185.22 (5) is renumbered PSC 185.22 (5) (a).
PSC 185.33 (1m) A public utility that calculates its volume charges in units of cubic feet shall include customer usage in both cubic feet and gallons on the customer bill or provide a formula for converting usage in cubic feet to gallons on the customer bill. In lieu of providing the information on the customer bill, a public utility may provide the information in a document provided to each customer under sub. (1) (f).
SECTION 14. Section PSC 185.33 (2) is renumbered PSC 185.22 (5) (b) and, as renumbered, amended to read:
PSC 185.22 (5) (b) Upon a residential customer request, the public utility shall provide consumption information by billing periods for at least the last year and information and instructions needed by the customer to make consumption comparisons to similar residential customers in the same class and to evaluate water conservation efforts.
SECTION 15. Section PSC 185.815 is repealed.
SECTION 16. Section PSC 185.84 is repealed.
SECTION 17. Section PSC 185.85 is repealed and re-created to read:
PSC 185.85 Water audits and water loss control. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) “Apparent loss" means the volume of water attributable to customer and station meter inaccuracies, billing and data transfer errors, unauthorized consumption, and theft.
(b) “Authorized consumption" means the volume of water used by metered and unmetered customers and the volume of water used for other purposes that is implicitly or explicitly authorized by the utility, including water used for flushing water mains and sewers, fire protection and training, street cleaning, public fountains, freeze prevention, and other municipal purposes regardless of whether the use is metered.
(c) “Non-revenue water" means the volume of water equal to the difference between the volume of water entering the distribution system and the volume of water that is sold.
(d) “Real loss" means the volume of water attributable to leaks and losses in the pressurized distribution system up to the customer meter, including water lost due to main breaks, service breaks, and tank and reservoir overflows.
(e) “Revenue water" means the volume of water entering the distribution system that is billed and for which the utility receives revenue.
(f) “Unaccounted for water" means the volume of water entering the distribution system for which a specific use or purpose cannot be determined.
(g) “Water loss" means the difference between the volume of water entering the distribution system and authorized consumption.
Note: Water loss equals the sum of real and apparent losses that are caused by unauthorized consumption, meter inaccuracies, accounting errors, data processing errors, leaks in transmission and distribution mains, leaks in service connections up to the customer meter, seepage, overflow, evaporation, theft, malfunctioning distribution system controls, and other unaccounted for water, as described in the American Water Works Association M36 manual.
(2) UTILITY PRACTICES. Each public utility shall do all of the following:
(a) Meter all water uses and sales, where practicable.
(b) Maintain and verify the accuracy of customer meters.
(c) Maintain and verify the accuracy of station meters.
(d) Identify and repair leaks in its distribution system to the extent that it is cost-effective for the public utility to do so.
(e) Control water usage from hydrants.
(f) Maintain a continuing record of system pumpage and metered consumption.
(g) Conduct an annual water audit.
(3) WATER AUDITS. (a) A public utility shall conduct an annual water audit on a calendar year basis and submit the results of the audit to the commission in a format specified by the commission no later than April 1 of each year.
(b) A public utility water audit shall include the measured or estimated volume of all of the following:
1. Water purchased or pumped from all sources.
2. Water used in treatment or production processes.
3. Water entering the distribution system.
4. Water sold, including both metered and unmetered sales.
5. Water not sold but used for utility-authorized purposes, including flushing mains, fire protection, freeze prevention, and other authorized system uses.
6. Water loss.
7. Unknown or unaccounted for water.
(c) The components of a water audit are shown as follows:
System Input Volume (Finished Water + Purchased Water)
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Authorized
Consumption
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Billed Authorized Consumption
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Billed Metered Consumption
(including water exported, wholesale sales)
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Revenue
Water
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Billed Unmetered Consumption
(Bulk water sales, utility uses)
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Unbilled Authorized Consumption
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Unbilled Metered Consumption
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Non-
revenue Water
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Unbilled Unmetered Consumption
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Water Losses
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Apparent Loss
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Unauthorized Consumption
(Theft, uncontrolled hydrants, etc.)
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Metering Inaccuracies
(Customer, station meters)
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Data Handling Errors
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Real Losses
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Leakage on Transmission and Distribution Mains
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Leakage and Overflows at Utility's Storage Tanks
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Leakage on Service Connections
(Up to point of customer meter)
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(3) WATER LOSS CONTROL. (a) Each public utility shall calculate its annual percentage of non-revenue water and its percentage of water loss, based on the volume of water entering its distribution system.
(b) A public utility shall submit to the commission a water loss control plan if a water audit shows the public utility has any of the following:
1. A percentage of non-revenue water that exceeds 30 percent.
2. A percentage of water loss that exceeds 15 percent for a Class AB or Class C utility or 25 percent for a Class D utility.
(c) A water loss control plan under par. (b) shall include all of the following:
1. The reasons for the excessive non-revenue water or water loss.
2. A description of the measures that the utility plans to undertake to reduce water loss to acceptable levels within a reasonable time period.
3. An analysis of the costs of implementing a water loss control program, including a comparison of lost sales revenue and the costs that would be avoided by reducing leaks and losses.
4. Any additional information required by the commission.
(d) The commission may require a public utility to conduct a leak detection survey of its entire distribution system if for three consecutive years the public utility's percentage of water loss exceeds 15 percent for a Class AB and Class C utility or 25 percent for a Class D utility.
SECTION 18. Section PSC 185.87 is repealed.
SECTION 19. Section
PSC 185.89 is created to read:
PSC 185.89 Adequacy of Water Supply, Emergency Operations and Interruptions of Service. (1) ADEQUACY OF WATER SUPPLY. A public utility shall exercise reasonable diligence to furnish a continuous and adequate supply of water to its customers.
(2) EMERGENCY OPERATION. (a) A public utility shall make reasonable provisions to meet an emergency resulting from the failure of power supply or from fire, storm, or similar events. A public utility shall inform its employees of procedures to be followed in an emergency to prevent or mitigate the interruption or impairment of water service.
(3) INTERRUPTIONS OF SERVICE. (a) A public utility shall make all reasonable efforts to prevent interruptions of service. If an interruption occurs, the public utility shall re-establish service with the shortest possible delay, consistent with safety to its employees, customers, and the general public.
(b) If an emergency interruption significantly affects fire-protection service, a public utility shall immediately notify the fire chief or other responsible local official.
(c) A public utility shall make reasonable efforts to schedule planned interruptions at times that minimize customer inconvenience. A public utility shall make reasonable efforts to notify customers of the time and anticipated duration of a planned interruption.
SECTION 20. Section
PSC 185.90 is created to read:
PSC 185.90 Water Supply Shortage. (1) DECLARATION. A public utility may declare a water supply shortage if the public utility cannot adequately meet customer demand due to drought, insufficient source capacity, or excessive demand.
(2) PLAN. A public utility may adopt a water supply shortage curtailment plan and file the plan with the commission under s.
PSC 185.21.
(3) APPLICABILITY. Unless a public utility has adopted a water supply shortage curtailment plan under sub. (2), the provisions of this section apply.
(4) TEMPORARY CURTAILMENT. Except as provided in sub. (6), a public utility may temporarily curtail water service to some or all of its customers during a water supply shortage, if the curtailment is necessary to protect public utility facilities, to prevent a dangerous condition, or to alleviate a condition that presents an imminent threat to public health, welfare, or safety.
(5) UTILITY RESPONSIBILITIES. If a public utility determines that it is necessary to curtail service under this section, the public utility shall do all of the following:
(a) Make reasonable efforts to notify customers affected by the water supply shortage.
(b) Request all customers to enact voluntary water conservation measures to reduce water consumption, including limiting irrigation and other non-essential uses.
(c) Implement any curtailment in an equitable manner that allows the public utility to maintain reasonably adequate service to the greatest number of customers.
(d) Promptly restore service.
(6) APPROVAL TO CURTAIL ESSENTIAL USE CUSTOMERS. A public utility may not curtail service to a customer under this section without the commission's prior approval if the customer provides essential public health, welfare, or safety functions that require consistent water service or if any of the conditions described in s.
PSC 185.37 (8) (h),
(8m),
(9), or
(10) apply.
(7) REPORT. A public utility shall report to the commission within 7 days of declaring a water supply shortage. The public utility shall include in the report the reasons for any curtailment, the number of customers affected, the duration of the curtailment, and any other information requested by the commission.
SECTION 21. Subchapter IX of chapter PSC 185 is created to read:
Subchapter IX – Water Conservation and Efficiency
PSC 185.95 Definitions. In this subchapter:
(1) “Net cost-effectiveness" means the extent to which a water conservation program or measure is cost-effective, after being adjusted for all of the following:
1. The amount of water savings that would have been achieved in the absence of the water conservation program or measure.
2. The amount of water savings directly attributable to the influence of the water conservation program or measure but that is not specifically included in the program or measure.
(2) “Voluntary program" means a water conservation program that a public utility voluntarily proposes for commission approval.
185.96 Customer Education Requirements. Upon a residential customer request, a public utility shall provide information to the residential customer that may assist the customer in reducing outdoor water use, repairing residential water leaks, and implementing other water conservation measures. This information may be provided on the public utility's web site.
185.97 Voluntary Water Conservation Programs. (1) REQUEST TO ADMINISTER OR FUND A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM. (a) A public utility may file a request with the commission to administer or fund one or more voluntary programs within its service area. A utility requesting such a program shall provide all of the following information:
1. A description of the proposed program, including the target market, eligible measures, delivery strategy, marketing and communications strategy, incentive strategy, and potential market effects for programs that include rebates or other financial incentives.
2. The proposed annual program budget, including administrative costs, and source of funding.
3. Annual and multi-year performance targets that are consistent with commission goals and policies.
4. A portfolio and program level net cost-effectiveness analysis.
5. A description of the public utility's proposed tracking and reporting system.
