Equal Payment Program for Water Volume Usage Charges (EPP)

• The EPP is available to residential customers that meet the following criteria:
  • Own and live in their home (owner-occupied)
  • Have a municipal utility account connection date on or before March 31, 2024
  • Have a minimum of 12 billing cycles of continuous water volume usage charges on an account (necessary to calculate the installment payment amount)
• The EPP is not available to tenants renting their home, commercial/business accounts, or irrigation accounts.

“Water Volume Usage Charges” refers specifically to the portion of a resident’s municipal utility bill that is based on the amount of water, as measured in thousands of gallons, that passes through a water meter and is the basis for usage charges on the Municipal Utilities Fee Schedule. 

Your Town of Wellington Municipal Utilities billing statement comprises six rates for three separate utilities operated by the Town, as further explained below:

Water Utility

• Base rate: an equal amount for all customers of the same type
• Volume usage rate: the amount of water consumed
• See blue cells on example billing below

Wastewater Utility

• Base rate: an equal amount for all customers of the same type
• Volume usage rate: an average of monthly water usage during winter months — from January, February, and March, when irrigation is not taking place and usage is at its lowest point historically
• See green cells on example billing below

Stormwater Utility

• Town of Wellington (TOW): an equal amount for all customers of the same type
• Boxelder Basin Regional Stormwater Authority: an equal amount for all customers of the same type 
  • The Town does not retain amounts assessed by the authority
• See yellow cells on example billing below

Example Billing Statement

Many households use more water during the summer resulting in higher water volume usage charges in those billing periods as opposed to other seasons. The EPP calculates your historical yearly water volume usage charges and distributes an amount equal to the total, plus a small buffer, over a one-year period to create an even monthly payment amount in an effort to minimize the impact of seasonal swings in water consumption on your monthly budget. The buffer is an attempt to minimize the impact of water volume usage charges in excess of the historical data.

We combine your actual water volume usage charges for the 12 billing periods between April of the previous year and March of the current year, and any outstanding balances owed as of the March 31st billing period. Then we divide the total amount into 12 equal installment payments and apply a percentage increase or decrease in alignment with changes made by the Board of Trustees when setting municipal utilities rates for the current year. Water volume usage charge is the only utility rate calculated for the EPP. Non-consumption-based utility rates (base water rate, base wastewater rate, wastewater volume, TOW stormwater, and AUTH stormwater) already have a consistent flat charge.

We will review your installment payment in April of each year and consider any changes in municipal utility rates approved by the Board of Trustees. Depending on your actual water volume usage charges from the previous 12 billing periods, we will “true-up” your municipal utility account by either adding or subtracting to the installment payment amount for the next year. We still read your water meter monthly and charge your account for your actual water usage throughout the year, and your monthly installment payments are applied against those charges.

Every month, you will only pay the EPP installment payment – regardless of your actual water volume usage charge – and the current rates for wastewater (base and volume usage), stormwater (TOW and AUTH), and water (base). Other applicable fees that may apply (such as late payment, nonsufficient funds, etc.) will also appear on your bill.

Any overpayment or underpayment will be resolved when your installment payment amount is recalculated and we “true-up” your municipal utility account each April. We will round up to the nearest dollar after the recalculation in an effort to minimize the impact of water volume usage charges in excess of the recalculation data.

Your actual water volume usage charges still accrue on your municipal utility account for the water you use monthly. When unenrolling in the EPP, if the water volume usage charges on your account are more than you paid in installment payments, your next bill will include the full amount due. If the water volume usage charges on your account are less than you paid in installment payments at the time you unenroll in the EPP, credit may be applied to future municipal utility billing periods.

If the water volume usage charges on your account are more than you've paid in installment payments at the time you disconnect services, you will receive a bill for the full amount due. If the water volume usage charges on your account are less than you’ve paid in installment payments at the time you disconnect services, credit will be applied to other outstanding municipal utility (wastewater or stormwater) balances. Any remaining credit will be refunded via check to the municipal utility account holder.

For questions about the EPP or about your municipal utility billing statement, please contact the Utility Billing Coordinator at:

• Phone: 970-568-3381 Opt. 2
• Email: utilities@wellingtoncolorado.gov
• Visit: Town of Wellington Municipal Services Building, 8225 Third Street, Wellington, CO