Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Public Utilities recommends reimbursement to South Campus Gateway LLC for over-payment of water and sewer fees. The overpayment was due to a conversion error (meter to ccf) in the billing system involving the customer's metric meter from December 18, 2005 to December 18, 2007. The Department of Public Utilities bills in CCF (hundred cubic feet) and, therefore a metric meter must be converted to cubic feet prior to billing. If the data is not converted the consumption billed is almost triple (2.83 times) what it should be. Errors of this type will be reduced in the future as the Department of Public Utilities is replacing most of its metric meters with cubic foot meters. The total refund to the customer is $70,429.97.
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 services.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no budgetary impact because we are returning a portion of funds the customer paid. Revenues are not significantly impacted by this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to reimburse South Campus Gateway LLC for over-payment of water and sewer fees, to authorize a revenue reduction transaction of $70,429.97 and to declare an emergency. ($70,429.97)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities recommends reimbursement to South Campus Gateway LLC for over-payment of water and sewer fees, and
WHEREAS, the overpayment was due to a conversion error (meter to ccf) in the billing system involving the customer's metric meter from December 18, 2005 to December 18, 2007. The Department of Public Utilities bills in CCF (hundred cubic feet) and, therefore a metric meter must be converted to cubit feet prior to billing. If the data is not converted the consumption billed is almost triple (2.83 times) what it should be. Errors of this type will be reduced in the future as the Department of Public Utilities is replacing most of its metric meters with cubic foot meters, 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 South Campus Gateway LLC for over-payment of water and sewer fees, 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 South Campus Gateway LLC for over-payment of water and sewer fees.
Section 2. That a revenue reduction transaction in the total amount of $70,429.97 or as much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized from:
Water Operating Fund 600, Dept. 60-09, $70,429.97
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.