HomeMy WebLinkAbout7 Leak Repair Rebate program Agenda Item # 7
DONNER
Cublic Utility District
WORKSHOP
To: Board of Directors
From: Steven Poncelet
Date: August 19, 2009
Subject: Discussion of a Customer Leak Repair Rebate Program
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
This workshop item concerns the water meter project, customer leak detection, and a
new water conservation rebate program.
2. HISTORY
One of the benefits of installing water meters and the new meter reading technology
has been the remote leak detection capability. The system notifies the District if a
leak is detected on the customers side of the meter and provides information on when
the leak occurred and how much water is leaking. The District has been notifying the
customer of the leak and is providing information to help the customer try and locate
the leak either within the home or in the service lateral. Some customers have been
contacting the District for additional assistance and, in some cases, will need the
services of a licensed plumbing contractor to locate and repair the leak. To date, it
appears that somewhere between 10-30% of our customers have leaks.
3. NEW INFORMATION
The Conservation Department is developing a Customer Leak Repair Rebate Program
to help our customers locate and repair leaks and to provide an incentive for them to
do so. This program would include a list of licensed plumbing contractors who are
qualified to locate and repair leaks along with a $100 District rebate for repairing a
leak. To qualify for the rebate, the customer would need to provide an invoice for the
leak repair work from a licensed contractor and Customer Service would need to verify
that the customer leak has been abated. It is estimated that up to 150 customers
would take part in this program during FY09 and that the program would be primarily
promoted through the letters to customers from the Water Department notifying them
that they have a leak.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The total budget for this program would be $15,000 for FY09. Sufficient funds exist
within the FY09 budget to implement this program.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Receive this report and provide comment and direction.
Sieven Poncelet Stephen Hollabaugh
Public Information & Conservation Manager Assistant General Manager