Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Public Utilities recommends reimbursement to Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse (Account Number 381573-1028283). The customer has a credit balance of $30,876.01 due to an adjustment from a correction to the meter unit of measure on April 17, 2012. It was determined that the incorrect unit of measure was used in the customer billing system when the meter was originally added on April 26, 2001.
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse was equipped with a meteric meter in which calculated water consumption in cubic meter units. However from April 26, 2001 to April 17, 2012 the unit of measure for water consumption was measurered in cubic foot which is calculated slightly higher than cubic meter. As a result the Department of Public Utilities overbilled the customer for water and sewer consumption during this time period. The unit of measure error was corrected and the incorrect volume of consumption was adjusted for the past six years from 5/17/06 to 4/17/12. The total adjusted water and sewer credit was $47,598.61. The total refund the customer is entitled to is $30,876.01 due to subsequent billing from the date of adjustment.
It is requested that this legislation be handled in an emergency manner in order to reimburse the customer at the earliest possible date.
Contract Compliance is not required as this refund is necessary to our customer to whom we have agreed to provide water and sewer services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Revenues are not significantly impacted by this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to reimburse Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse for over-payment of water and sewer charges, to authorize a revenue reduction transaction of $30,876.01and to declare an emergency. ($30,876.01)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities recommends reimbursement to Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse for over payment of water and sewer consumption, and
WHEREAS, the adjustment was made after the customer paid for 14,607 CCF's of water and sewer consumption instead of being charged 9,499 CCF's of water and sewer consumption since May 17, 2006, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to reimburse the Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse for water and sewer charges, in an emergency manner in order to reimburse them at the earliest possible date, for the immediate preservation of public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to reimburse Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse water and sewer charges.
SECTION 2 That a revenue reduction transaction in the total amount of $30,876.01 or as much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized from:
Water Operating Fund 600, Dept. 60-09, $10,209.84
Sewerage System Operating Fund 650, Dept. 60-05, $20,666.17
SECTION 3 That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.