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Show WATER PRICING POLICY STUDY consumption from the billing month for the previous year or monthly consumption records for the previous twelve months ( perhaps on a bar graph). Public Education Even with the appropriate rate structure and a billing system that conveys the price of water clearly to the customer, most customers will need some education concerning how their rate structure works and how their consumption will impact their bill. Public information programs should be developed that explain the utility's conservation and pricing goals to customers and that make customers aware of their pricing system, the rationale behind it, and its likely impacts. The use of bill sniffers can be effective, as can the development of a " mock billing". Prior to the issuance of a bill under the new rate structure, the utility can provide a " mock billing" that shows what that customer's bill would have been under the new system so that the customer can compare and visually see the impact of the new rate structure. It might be worthwhile to include an average customer's monthly billings for a full year under both the new and old rate structure on a bill sniffer. Numerous media outlets can also be helpful in reaching the public. News releases can be prepared for print and radio media in the impacted area. Advertisements can be prepared for television, newsprint and radio as public service announcements, or as paid advertisements. Perhaps the most important aspect of public education is properly preparing utility staff to answer questions from customers. No matter how effective the rest of the public information program is, there will invariably be a substantial number of inquiries from customers who are confused by a new rate structure or billing system. The utility should be prepared to field those questions and to provide information and answers to customers quickly and correctly. The timing of a rate structure change can also be an important consideration. If the utility wants to draw attention to conservation as an issue, they may want to implement the new structure during the peak season, when the bill impact will be more pronounced. Implementing the new rate structure during the non- peak season, however, may assist the utility in managing customer reaction ( if it is expected to be negative) to the new rate structure. WASTEWATER PRICING The majority of wastewater customers are billed under pricing systems that attempt to isolate " indoor" water use, and exclude " outdoor" water use. The peak water usage season in Utah is the summer months. Landscape irrigation is the primary reason for the summer peak. Adding to the summer peak are other factors such as increased tourism, Executive Summary ES- 26 |