Shhh. Do you see it? Over there? It's hiding between December and March. Quiet down! You still don't see it. Crickey! You just scared it away!

Since finding a Water Department billing policy isn't something you'd normally call Steve Irwin or Jeff Corwin to handle, UCAN can help you track down something that's just as clandestine as the poisonous yellow-bellied ratus-hikus snake: the elusive Winter Monitoring Period.

As you may know, the Water and Metro Wastewater Departments fall under the purview of San Diego's Public Utilities division. Basically, the Water Department brings you water and the Wastewater Department takes sewer away. The charges for both of these services are located on your bimonthly water bill. Recently, we've had some questions about the Sewer Service Charge. But to accurately explain this charge, we need to find that Winter Monitoring Period. Ah ha! There it is!

According to the City's website, the Winter Monitoring period is used to calculate an individual's bimonthly sewer charge. The City did not want to charge a flat, uniform rate to all water customers in the city of San Diego. Instead, it elected to use a mystical formula to calculate an individualized sewer rate for each individual account. An individual sewer rate, according to the City, makes sure that you aren't paying for your neighbor's sewer use. And which mystical formula would this be? The Winter Monitoring Period.

"Every winter, primarily during the months of December through March, the City monitors the amount of water each customer uses. The winter months are when the measuring takes place because that is when the highest percentage of water used is returned to the sewer system. The City monitors your water usage during the two billing cycles when your meter is actually read, and uses the total from the cycle with the least amount of usage to calculate your sewer rate." http://www.sandiego.gov/water/rates/winter.shtml
 

Bottom line? The sewer services are used the most in the winter, so the City measures your second to highest sewer usage to calculate your annual rate. Wait, annual rate?

"Once the monitoring period is finished, an individualized flat rate is figured for each customer, and that rate goes into effect the following July 1. That rate is in effect for one year, and will be updated with new data every July 1." http://www.sandiego.gov/water/rates/winter.shtml

Bottom line (part 2)? The City creates a rate based upon your highest sewer usage. This is your bimonthly Sewer Service Charge. You are charged this rate for one year. The annual period begins July 1. So the Water Department calculates your annual rate during the months you use the sewer the most. 

Now, this is great if you've lived in your home for a year or more, but what happens if you are a newcomer and never experienced a Winter Monitoring period?

"If you are new to a home, your sewer rate will be based on the city-wide average until a reading can take place for you during the next winter." http://www.sandiego.gov/water/rates/winter.shtml

Bottom line (part will this ever end)? If you moved into your home after the Winter Monitoring Period, you are charged a flat rate. A flat rate that the City wanted to do away with by implementing the Winter Monitoring Period. 

AHHHH! That was the sound of the screams of the world-renowned tracking experts we hired to find the elusive Winter Monitoring Period, frightened by the freaky City billing policies. While those crazy extreme animal people may not be scared of sharks and snakes, UCAN isn't afraid of tackling these crazy Water Department policies.