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. , O° / / ���(_ <br /> / �/' '� '" <br /> ' <br /> OWASA HEARING <br /> 6/13/9O <br /> My wife and I are the owners of three energY-efficient <br /> duplexes . Each apartment has one full bathroom , kitchen <br /> sink , washing machine , and 52 gallon electric water heater . <br /> We set our rents as low as economically possible and have <br /> infrequent raises . We also encourage our tenants to take <br /> advantage of Duke Power Company' s interruptable and half <br /> price water heating rates . This all adds up to quality <br /> low-cost housing . <br /> Each apartment is served by a service line extending to the <br /> street where the line is connected to the adjoining <br /> apartment water service line and then to the meter serving <br /> both apartments . Two separate water lines were installed <br /> with the expectation of having each apartment on its own <br /> meter . However / [*asa' s charge for the second meter was <br /> $1400 and not economically feasible . ( Owasa' s charge today <br /> is $2400 ! ) Only one water meter was installed ` therefore / <br /> and the water bills have been paid by us , as landlords <br /> instead of by the !ultimate user ` whose only contact with <br /> Owasa is through the water he uses . <br /> Among the apartments there are such large variations in the <br /> water bills (which become even more noticeable with tenant <br /> changes) that we know that many of our tenants do not have <br /> an awareness of or an incentive to conserve water . This` <br /> coupled with frequent ' rate increases , makes it impossible <br /> for us to set long-term rents in a fair manner , particularly <br /> for those tenants who are thrifty and interested in <br /> conservation measures . <br /> We hereby petition Owasa to set a much lower price for <br /> providing a second meter for a duplex ` a pr/ice that would <br /> make a second meter economically feasible and put the <br /> ultimate user of water and sewer service in direct contact <br /> with Owasa . The user would receive the ensuing benefits of <br /> receiving all of the information from Owasa about thrift and <br /> conservation as well as paying the least possible water <br /> costs . <br /> My cost , as a state-wide licensed plumbing contractor ` for <br /> an S-R-2 Rockwell water metor such as Owasa uses is $37 .50 . <br /> Installation costs should be le.... than $100 . 00 . Therefore , <br /> we would suggest that the Owasa charge for a second meter <br /> should not be over $250 . 00 with benefit to landlord ` tenant , <br /> and Owasa . <br /> Signed : ^�■ <br /> /'i � <br /> ` <br /> ,' *� <br /> \ ) ^ \ <br /> \ \ � \ ^� <br /> Ky)�vvu�v^ ~~~, ' <br /> \ J <br />