WSSC passes rate hike but fails to cover critical pipe replacement

After three deadlocks, the commission members produced a 4-2 vote, with Prince George’s representatives Joyce Starks and Juanita Miller voting against the proposal.

The vote allows the utility to forward its proposals to both counties’ councils by the March 1 deadline.

The average residential customer will pay an extra $3.77 per month for a total of roughly $45 more per year.

On his last day with the WSSC, General Manager Andrew Brunhart said that if the utility did not approve increases to rebuild at least 55 miles of water pipe per year, it should strike the words ‘‘trusted, reliable and clean” from its mission statement. Brunhart said the board would be accountable for the resulting problems, not employees.

Earlier Thursday, the commissioners divided along county lines over a Prince George’s proposal for a 6.5 percent rate increase and no monthly infrastructure renewal fee. A Montgomery proposal to increase rates 8 percent and set a monthly renewal fee of $6 beginning July 1 also failed by the same 3-3 vote.

A second Montgomery proposal to approve a 9.5 percent rate increase with no monthly renewal fee also failed.

On Sunday evening, Prince George’s commissioners presented a plan crafted by staff for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), to charge ratepayers based on the value of their property and to increase the usage rate charge by 3 percent to 4 percent.

That plan would have had some homeowners paying hundreds of dollars more annually than others regardless of how much water they used.

Because of generally higher Montgomery County property values, that plan, which Prince George’s commissioners called ‘‘progressive,” would result in Montgomery County ratepayers shouldering more of the burden for repairs.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) ‘‘has differences” with Johnson over the proposal, Leggett spokesman Patrick K. Lacefield said Tuesday.

WSSC officials have said they also are concerned that the cost will be hard for some to bear, and the utility’s staff and board have been considering a number of ways to raise the money while easing the effect on ratepayers.

Prince George’s commissioners said their proposals would raise the same amount of money over 10 years, but charge less to those least able to afford it.

The attorney general’s office raised questions Tuesday about whether state law would allow the utility to assess such an ad valorem tax to pay directly for repairs and rebuilding of infrastructure.