Commissioners propose bedroom-based residential sewer charge and launch PR market research

The Wareham Board of Sewer Commissioners on June 11 discussed a proposal to rework residential sewer billing from a flat 'EDU per single-family home' to a bedroom-based EDU — converting a one-family unit definition to a per-bedroom metric and keeping the change revenue-neutral.

"The one- and two-bedroom homes have been subsidizing the four and up-bedroom homes," Commissioner Bob Scandan said, summarizing the rationale for a bedroom-based approach. Staff described a structure in which a one-bedroom dwelling would equal 1 EDU and each additional bedroom would add 0.25 EDU; under the draft model one- and two-bedroom homes would see reductions while larger homes would face modest increases.

Commissioners emphasized modeling before any billing change. Staff said they will test residential modeling with their vendor (referred to in the transcript as 'Vader') and return results prior to implementing changes; staff also asserted the proposal would be revenue neutral "not a penny will be made or lost in doing this rate restructure."

Communications plan: commissioners also agreed to begin market research for a public-relations contractor to help explain billing and other system changes to the public. The board discussed a short list of concise questions to send to firms and agreed that, if the contract is under $50,000, they would contact at least three firms rather than issue a full RFP. Commissioners also asked the PR outreach to include experience working with environmental-justice (EJ) communities and suggested the PR firm could provide media training for plant and commission staff.

Next steps: staff will finish modeling for residential impacts and circulate draft PR questions for review; the board set a follow-up to review the vendor responses at the next workshop on June 25.