Connecticut House Bill HB05346

Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/20
• Refer: 2/27/20

Caption

An Act Concerning Residential Sewer Use Charges During The Summer Months.

Impact

The bill was introduced to alleviate the financial burden on residential users who may see fluctuating sewage charges during the hotter months. By tying summer sewer charges to previous usage rates rather than current consumption, it aims to provide more predictability and potentially lower costs for homeowners. This change may also impact municipal budgeting and planning related to water infrastructure based on expected revenue from sewer charges.

Summary

House Bill 05346, titled 'An Act Concerning Residential Sewer Use Charges During The Summer Months', aims to amend how municipalities establish connection and usage charges for sewer systems. The bill specifies that the charges for residential users during the summer months should be based on the average volume of water discharged during the nonsummer months. This legislative change is meant to ensure a fairer billing system for residential users when water usage often increases due to yard watering and other summer activities.

Contention

While supporters believe that the bill promotes fairness in billing, opponents may argue that it creates an undue strain on municipalities which rely on current consumption data to effectively manage and budget for water treatment facilities. Discussions within the legislature may focus on the sustainability of this approach and its long-term implications for overall water resource management. Other points of contention could include potential disparities in implementation across different municipalities and how they might interpret 'fair and reasonable' charges.