The purpose of the charge is to pay for building sewage treatment capacity to serve newly connected customers. The capacity charge ensures that all customers pay their share of the cost of capital improvements to provide them with sewage treatment service. King County provides sewage treatment and disposal service to most of the cities and sewer districts in King County and a portion of Snohomish County. Some tenant improvements may also be subject to this charge.
King County sends capacity charge bills to customers about six months after connection to sewers.
King County then bills customers directly every six months for 15 years. At any time during this period, customers may pay the remaining balance at a discount rate of 8 percent per year. RCEs per unit. This increase does not apply to properties connected before this date. The subsequent owners will be responsible for paying the capacity charge through the end of the 15-year period.