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Third Tier Water Rate Appeal Process
How to appeal a third-tier water rate charge
Circumstances eligible for appeal:
- • One or more household members who require water-intensive medical treatments or convalescent care
- • More than one single family residence served by a single water meter
- • Boarding house or multi-family living arrangements
- • Hardship circumstances that merit special consideration
Note: For any of these circumstances, you may be eligible for exemption from third-tier water rates or a recalculation of your third-tier consumption threshold.
Appeal process
- • First, a customer must receive a bill containing third-tier water charges that they wish to appeal. Appeals for billed third-tier charges in 2006 will be accepted after May 16.
- • Submit a written request explaining why the charges are being appealed, and how the request fits within the circumstances listed above as eligible for appeal.
- • Enclose a copy of the bill showing the third-tier charges being appealed, or be sure to provide complete identifying information including name, address, account number, bill date and amount of third-tier charges being appealed. Please include a daytime phone number.
- • Bill payment should be made in the usual way and not sent with the appeal. Be sure to pay all charges on the bill other than third-tier water charges.
- • The appeal information should be sent to:
Seattle Public Utilities
Attn: Utility Hearing Officer
700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2777
PO Box 34027
Seattle, WA 98124-4027
OR fax items to: (206) 684-3811
OR appeal at: Contact Us
Customers can expect a response within 30 days. Pending a response, unpaid third-tier charges are not subject to credit action or late payment charges. Approved appeals are retroactive to May 16, 2006 and will apply to 2006 third-tier charges only.
Important note for customers who submitted a third-tier appeal in 2005 or earlier: If an appeal was approved in 2005 or earlier for other than a hardship circumstance, it is not necessary to resubmit an appeal for 2006. However, if an appeal was denied in 2005 or earlier, but circumstances have changed or a hardship circumstance exists for 2006, a new appeal should be submitted for 2006.
Related links
Reduce Water Use
Third Tier Water Rates
Links to other sites
Saving Water Partnership
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