Water Supply Requirements and Non-Residential Water Allotments

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Fort Collins Utilities is determining the Water Supply Requirement (WSR) fee and Excess Water Use (EWU) surcharge for 2025. During this process, Utilities is also planning to issue water allotments to non-residential customers who do not have them to administer water fairly across our service area. Ultimately, closer to the end of the year, City Council is expected to hear staff proposals on fee and surcharge updates, in addition to water allotments, and decide whether to adopt them.

During the process to update the fees and assign allotments, Utilities would like to hear from you. To learn more, review the information below. We are also collecting feedback through the questionnaire button on this page.


WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS

When a customer develops or redevelops a property, Utilities assesses if a new water tap is needed and calculates a WSR fee. This process is in place so our community shares in the responsibility to provide a reliable source of water for years to come.

The current WSR fee is $68,200 per acre-foot and only applies to accounts within Utilities' water service area. The one-time fee is based on the property's anticipated water use, which helps offset the impacts to the City’s water system that provides water to the customer. Utilities is proposing to increase this fee in 2025 to better capture this cost. The current proposal range is $72,000-$116,000 per acre-foot. Utilities is continuing to analyze and update the inputs that will determine the exact proposed fee, so the final fee could be outside of the range.

After the customer pays the WSR fee, Utilities then assigns the water account an equivalent water allotment if it's a non-residential (commercial) account.

Example customers:

  • Businesses (restaurants, breweries)
  • Homeowners Associations
  • Government and non-profit (parks, municipal offices)


EXCESS WATER USE SURCHARGES
A customer would receive an EWU surcharge if they use more water than their allotment allows. EWU surcharges correlate to WSR fees. Currently, the surcharge is $16.67 for every 1,000 gallons exceeded and is expected to increase in 2025 along with the WSR. The current proposal increases the EWU surcharge to an estimated range between $17.60-$28.35 per 1,000 gallons. Utilities is continuing to analyze and update the inputs that will determine the exact surcharge amount, so it may land outside of the range.


NEW ALLOTMENTS FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Utilities started assigning non-residential customers water allotments in 1984. At that time, existing water accounts were not issued allotments and were exempt from the program. Today, about 1,000 Utilities accounts do not have an allotment. This disparity means some people or organizations can use more than others, without paying a surcharge. As the price of water continues to increase, so does this disparity. Therefore, Utilities is proposing issuing allotments to all non-residential customers who do not currently have one to administer water fairly across the community.

A water allotment is like a budget. Non-residential (commercial and irrigation-only) customers receive an annual allotment based on their business type. If a customer goes “over budget”, they pay an EWU surcharge. If a customer consistently goes over, and they want to purchase a larger allotment, they can pay WSR fees or provide City water certificates and credits.

How much will my account's allotment be?
Utilities will send customers information specific to their account, including the allotment size in gallons. This will not require any upfront payment to Utilities and would only affect future water use and bills.

Once an account’s allotment is established, customers will be able to track their use using our online platform.

How do I lower my water use so I don't go over my allotment?
Utilities provides water conservation programs to help customers manage their water use. Visit this link to learn more. Utilities is also updating the Water Efficiency Plan this year, which will evaluate the programs we offer.

Fort Collins Utilities is determining the Water Supply Requirement (WSR) fee and Excess Water Use (EWU) surcharge for 2025. During this process, Utilities is also planning to issue water allotments to non-residential customers who do not have them to administer water fairly across our service area. Ultimately, closer to the end of the year, City Council is expected to hear staff proposals on fee and surcharge updates, in addition to water allotments, and decide whether to adopt them.

During the process to update the fees and assign allotments, Utilities would like to hear from you. To learn more, review the information below. We are also collecting feedback through the questionnaire button on this page.


WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS

When a customer develops or redevelops a property, Utilities assesses if a new water tap is needed and calculates a WSR fee. This process is in place so our community shares in the responsibility to provide a reliable source of water for years to come.

The current WSR fee is $68,200 per acre-foot and only applies to accounts within Utilities' water service area. The one-time fee is based on the property's anticipated water use, which helps offset the impacts to the City’s water system that provides water to the customer. Utilities is proposing to increase this fee in 2025 to better capture this cost. The current proposal range is $72,000-$116,000 per acre-foot. Utilities is continuing to analyze and update the inputs that will determine the exact proposed fee, so the final fee could be outside of the range.

After the customer pays the WSR fee, Utilities then assigns the water account an equivalent water allotment if it's a non-residential (commercial) account.

Example customers:

  • Businesses (restaurants, breweries)
  • Homeowners Associations
  • Government and non-profit (parks, municipal offices)


EXCESS WATER USE SURCHARGES
A customer would receive an EWU surcharge if they use more water than their allotment allows. EWU surcharges correlate to WSR fees. Currently, the surcharge is $16.67 for every 1,000 gallons exceeded and is expected to increase in 2025 along with the WSR. The current proposal increases the EWU surcharge to an estimated range between $17.60-$28.35 per 1,000 gallons. Utilities is continuing to analyze and update the inputs that will determine the exact surcharge amount, so it may land outside of the range.


NEW ALLOTMENTS FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Utilities started assigning non-residential customers water allotments in 1984. At that time, existing water accounts were not issued allotments and were exempt from the program. Today, about 1,000 Utilities accounts do not have an allotment. This disparity means some people or organizations can use more than others, without paying a surcharge. As the price of water continues to increase, so does this disparity. Therefore, Utilities is proposing issuing allotments to all non-residential customers who do not currently have one to administer water fairly across the community.

A water allotment is like a budget. Non-residential (commercial and irrigation-only) customers receive an annual allotment based on their business type. If a customer goes “over budget”, they pay an EWU surcharge. If a customer consistently goes over, and they want to purchase a larger allotment, they can pay WSR fees or provide City water certificates and credits.

How much will my account's allotment be?
Utilities will send customers information specific to their account, including the allotment size in gallons. This will not require any upfront payment to Utilities and would only affect future water use and bills.

Once an account’s allotment is established, customers will be able to track their use using our online platform.

How do I lower my water use so I don't go over my allotment?
Utilities provides water conservation programs to help customers manage their water use. Visit this link to learn more. Utilities is also updating the Water Efficiency Plan this year, which will evaluate the programs we offer.

  • April 2024 Update

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    On April 9, 2024, staff presented several price options for the WSR fee and different allotment assignment methods to City Council. Staff discussed the WSR options and included a proposed initial recommendation that amounts to an estimated fee range of $72,000-$116,000 per acre-foot. Utilities is continuing to analyze and update the inputs that will determine the final fee, so it could land outside of that range. Click here to watch the meeting.

    About 1,000 non-residential (commercial) accounts do not have a water allotment. At the meeting, staff also recommended issuing allotments to those customers to be consistent and equitable. Discussion included questions on how many customers could benefit from conservation initiatives to avoid surcharges and the breakdown of types of business likely to be impacted.

  • Background

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    Utilities has been proactive in securing and developing a high-quality, reliable water supply system since the late 1800s and has implemented policies to ensure the water supply system will support existing and future water customers through 2065. Over the past several years, the cost to develop Utilities’ water supply has increased due to water scarcity, driven by climate change impacts such as drought and higher regional water demands and competition. Infrastructure costs have also gone up primarily due to inflation, which is a factor of the WSR fee. This prompted staff to reevaluate the fee and methodology, which was last evaluated in 2022 and set at $68,200 per acre-foot.



Page last updated: 17 May 2024, 09:41 AM