§16-13D-15. Rates and charges.

The governing body shall by appropriate resolution make provisions for the payment of the bonds by fixing rates, fees, and charges, for the use of all services rendered by the authority, which rates, fees, and charges shall be sufficient to pay the costs of operation, improvement, and maintenance of the authority’s water supply, wastewater transportation and/or treatment system, or stormwater system, to provide an adequate depreciation fund, provide an adequate sinking fund to retire the bonds and pay interest thereon when due, and to create reasonable reserves for those purposes. The fees, rates or charges shall be sufficient to allow for miscellaneous and emergency or unforeseen expenses. The authority shall maintain a working capital reserve in an amount of no less than one-eighth of all expenses incurred by the authority on an annual basis: Provided, That this working capital reserve shall be separate and distinct from, and in addition to: (1) any repair and replacement fund that may be required by bond covenants, and (2) any other funds held by the authority. The resolution of the governing body authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds may include agreements, covenants, or restrictions considered necessary or advisable by the governing body to effect the efficient operation of the system and to safeguard the interests of the holders of the revenue bonds and to secure the payment of the bonds and the interest thereon. The rates, fees, and charges for water, wastewater, or both, established by the authority shall be subject to review and approval by the Public Service Commission pursuant to Chapter 24 of this code.

The Public Service Commission shall, within 30 days of a rate filing, notify the authority whether its rate filing is complete. If the Commission determines that additional information is needed it will inform the authority of the information needed. Notwithstanding the timeframes for Commission review of rate applications set forth in Chapter 24, the Commission shall act on authority rate applications within the following timeframes:

(1) The Public Service Commission shall act on a rate filing by an authority that provides only water service or only wastewater service within 120 days of the date that the authority files with the Commission the necessary information showing the basis of the rates, fees, and charges or other information as the commission considers necessary. Failure of the Commission to act within the 120-day time period shall constitute approval thereof: Provided, That the 120-day period may be extended upon request of the authority.

(2) The Public Service Commission shall act on a rate filing by an authority that provides water and wastewater services, water and stormwater services, wastewater and stormwater services, or water and wastewater and stormwater services, within 180 days of the date that the authority files with the Commission the necessary information showing the basis of the rates, fees, and charges or other information as the Commission considers necessary: Provided, That the information shall include an explanation of the amount and basis for assigning and allocating total costs between the water operations, the wastewater operations, and if applicable the stormwater operations. Failure by the Commission to act within the 180-day period shall constitute approval thereof: Provided, however, That the 180-day Commission review period may be extended upon request of the authority.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or charter to the contrary, any regional stormwater authority may provide storm, flood, and surface water drainage management services to areas located outside its jurisdiction from which stormwater affects or drains into the area served by the regional stormwater authority, and any regional stormwater authority may assess fees for providing storm, flood, and surface water draining management services to be paid by the owner of each and every lot, parcel of real estate or building that in any way uses or is served by the stormwater system. The Public Service Commission has no jurisdiction to regulate the rates charged for storm, flood, and surface water drainage management services.