Title: Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates

Summary: Requiring a municipality to charge customers receiving its utility services in another municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it charges consumers within its municipal boundaries under certain circumstances, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to municipal water and sewer utility rates; amending s. 180.191, F.S.; requiring a municipality to charge customers receiving its utility services in another municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it charges consumers within its municipal boundaries under certain circumstances; providing applicability; defining terms; making technical changes; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Present subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 180.191, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (3), (4), and (5), respectively, a new subsection (2) is added to that section, and subsection (1) of that section is amended, to read: 180.191 Limitation on rates charged consumer outside city limits.  (1) Any municipality within this the state operating a water or sewer utility outside of the boundaries of such municipality shall charge consumers outside the boundaries rates, fees, and charges determined in one of the following manners: (a) It may charge the same rates, fees, and charges as consumers inside the municipal boundaries. However, in addition thereto,the municipality may add a surcharge of not more than percent of such rates, fees, and charges to consumers outside the boundaries,except as provided in subsection (2).Fixing of such rates, fees, and charges in this manner does shall not require a public hearing except as may be provided for service to consumers inside the municipality. (b) It may charge rates, fees, and charges that are just and equitable and that which are based on the same factors used in fixing the rates, fees, and charges for consumers inside the municipal boundaries,except as provided in subsection (2).In addition thereto,the municipality may add a surcharge not to exceed percent of such rates, fees, and charges for said services to consumers outside the boundaries. However, the total of all such rates, fees, and charges for the services to consumers outside the boundaries may shall not be more than percent in excess of the total amount the municipality charges consumers served within the municipality for corresponding service. No Such rates, fees, and charges may not shall be fixed until after a public hearing at which all of the users of the water or sewer systems; owners, tenants, or occupants of property served or to be served thereby; and all others interested must shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed rates, fees, and charges. Any change or revision of such rates, fees, or charges may be made in the same manner as such rates, fees, or charges were originally established, but if such change or revision is to be made substantially pro rata as to all classes of service, both inside and outside the municipality, no hearing or notice is shall be required. (2)   A municipality within this state which operates a water or sewer utility providing service to customers in another recipient municipality, which also has a facility in that recipient municipality, shall charge consumers in the recipient municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it does the consumers inside its own municipal boundaries. This subsection applies only to a municipality located within a county as defined in s. 125.011(1). As used in this subsection, the term: (a)    Facility  means a water treatment facility, a wastewater treatment facility, an intake station, a pumping station, a well, and other physical components of a water or wastewater system. The term does not include: 1.   Pipes, tanks, pumps, or other facilities that transport water from a water source or treatment facility to the consumer; or 2.   Pipes, conduits, and associated appurtenances that transport wastewater from the point of entry to a wastewater treatment facility. (b)    Wastewater treatment facility  means a facility that accepts and treats domestic wastewater or industrial wastewater. (c)    Water treatment facility  means a facility within a water system which can alter the physical, chemical, or bacteriological quality of water. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.