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<br /> <br />Water Rate Cost-of-Service Study <br />Section 5. Rate Design <br /> <br /> <br />HF&H Consultants, LLC | July 8, 2025 | Page 37 of 53 <br />Figure 5-2. Fire Service Charge Units of Service <br /> <br />Capacity costs associated with the distribution system are apportioned among the connections <br />in proportion to the capacity associated with each connection. In Figure 5-1, Connections <br />are converted to Equivalent Meter Units (EMUs) to apportion the customer capacity cost <br />component for potable and recycled water meters. An EMU represents the number of 5/8- <br />inch meters to which a larger meter is equivalent. For example, a 1-inch meter provides 2.50 <br />times as much capacity as a 5/8-inch meter. The capacity multipliers are based on the meter <br />data provided by the City of the manufacturer’s nominal capacity. For larger sized meters, the <br />City uses multiple types, such as displacement, turbine, or compound. All Single Family <br />Residential customers were assumed to have a 5/8” meter based on the current rate structure <br />which bills a fixed bi-monthly charge based on the smallest level of capacity (5/8”). The meter <br />ratings used reflect the nominal capacity of the most commonly used meter type available for <br />each size. There are 41,319 total EMUs. In effect, the 23,660 services of assorted sizes have <br />the equivalent capacity as 41,319 5/8-inch meters. <br />Figure 5-2 details the derivation of the units of service associated with fire services. For fire <br />services, what dictates the demand on the system is the diameter of the fire service line, <br />since during a fire event, each fire service needs to deliver very high flow rates instantly. The <br />fire service size determines the maximum instantaneous demand it can place on the system <br />(i.e., how much water the infrastructure must be ready to deliver at a moment’s notice for <br />fire suppression). An Equivalent Fireline Unit (EFU) is calculated and proportionally allocates <br />the standby capacity costs associated with providing adequate fire protection capacity. The <br />EFU calculation relies upon a demand factor. The demand factor, or relative potential of the <br />size of the service, is derived based on the service size raised to the power of 2.6316. The <br />demand factors used reflect the equivalent capacity of the various sizes of private fire service <br />lines. There are 63,613 total EFUs. In effect, the 667 service lines of assorted sizes have the <br />equivalent demand of 63,613 1-inch service lines. <br />Figure 5-3 derives the unit costs for the customer accounts and customer capacity cost <br />components. Each service is allocated $18.98 per month for the customer service and public <br />fire protection cost components. This amount represents the costs the City incurs to maintain <br />each service regardless of the capacity of the service (e.g., customer billing, administration <br />overhead). Each potable or recycled water (i.e. non-fire protection) service is also allocated <br />$27.20 per month per EMU. This amount represents a portion of the cost of providing <br />distribution system capacity for each account, and increases based on the capacity of the <br /> <br />16 Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges. American Water Works Association Manual M1. 7th Edition, pg. 163 <br />Fireline Services Private Fire Demand <br />(In Inches)Services Factor EFUs <br />aba * b <br />2" 170 6 1,052 <br />3" 30 18 539 <br />4" 146 38 5,595 <br />6" 183 111 20,370 <br />8" 126 237 29,888 <br />10" 8 427 3,413 <br />12" 4 689 2,756 <br />667 Total EFUs 63,613 <br />ATTY/RESO.0109/CC RESO WATER RATES - EXHIBIT A <br />REV: 11-05-25 MI