Newport’s new water authority met for the first time last week and undid what amounted to a 69 percent rate hike imposed upon angry ratepayers by its predecessor.
The authority, which now consists of chairman Barbara Hart, James Welsh, Penny Frownfelter and Gerry Robinson, opted for a more modest 15 percent increase that spreads the pain out more evenly across the board.
The previous rate increase, imposed to help the beleaguered authority cope with debt service payments and the cost of repairs, established a 2,000-gallon consumption threshold at the minimum rate of $64.05 per quarter and assessed an $11 surcharge for each additional 1,000 gallons of consumption.
It replaced a schedule that had allowed up to 6,000 gallons of consumption at the minimum rate of $64.05.
The new rate adopted on Sept. 7, before an appreciative audience, raises the minimum rate to $73.80 but allows for 6,000 of consumption before a 12.65-cent surcharge is imposed for every additional 1,000 gallons of consumption.
Under the old formula, a consumer of 6,000 gallons of water paid $108.05 per quarter, with surcharges. That same 6,000 gallons of consumption will cost $73.80 under the new plan.
The change answers a fundamental complaint of ratepayers, who noted that residential water users were bearing the brunt of the rate hike under the former formula.
The new rate will be reflected on new bills, which will be mailed Oct. 1.
Frownfelter’s appointment to the authority on Sept. 5 followed the appointments in late August of Welsh and Hart. The fourth member, Robinson, had served with the former board.
The appointments, a reaction to the sudden resignations of four authority board members last month, still leave council with one vacancy to fill.
“We’re still looking for people to submit letters of interest. We’re looking for people with a background in business administration. We’re going to take our time to find somebody who’s really interested and qualified,” said councilman Dick Amsler.
For various reasons, including a public backlash to what amounted to a 69-percent increase in quarterly rates for residential consumers of 6,000 gallons or less, Barry King, Melinda Downey, Diana Gregory and Luther Fleisher resigned.