56-265.13:4 - Rates and services
§ 56-265.13:4. Rates and services.
A small water or sewer utility shall be required to furnish reasonablyadequate services and facilities, subject to the regulation of theCommission. The charges made by any small water or sewer utility for anyservice rendered shall be (i) uniform as to all persons or corporations usingsuch service under like conditions and (ii) nondiscriminatory, reasonable andjust. Every charge for service found to be otherwise shall be unlawful.Reasonable and just charges for service within the meaning of this sectionshall be the lowest charges as shall produce sufficient revenues to pay alllawful and necessary expenses incident to:
1. The operation of the system, including maintenance costs, operatingcharges, and interest charges on bonds or other obligations;
2. The providing for the liquidation of bonds or other evidence ofindebtedness and the attraction of capital;
3. The providing of adequate funds to be used as working capital, as well asreasonable reserves and funds for making replacements, which may be escrowedand used only as working capital if the Commission so directs as a result ofa proceeding conducted pursuant to § 56-265.13:6;
4. The providing for the payment of taxes that may be assessed against thesmall water or sewer utility or its property; and
5. Compensation of owners of the utility for their capital or propertyinvested in the system, if any, and for their time and other resourcesexpended in the operation of the system not otherwise recovered undersubdivisions 1 through 4 of this section.
(1986, c. 323.)