Chairman Linda W. Cropp
A BILL IN THE COUNCIL
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Chairman Linda W. Cropp introduced the following bill, which was referred to the
Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs with comments from the Committee on Public
Works and the Environment
To amend An Act Making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the District of
Columbia for fiscal year ending June thirtieth nineteen hundred and fourteen and for other
purposes to designate the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority as a public
utility; and to amend the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public
Works Reorganization Act of 1996 to allow for regulation by the Public Services
Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as
the "Water and Sewer Authority Public Utility Designation Act of 1999".
Sec. 2. The third sentence of paragraph 1 of section 8 of An Act
Making appropriations to provide for the expenses of the District of Columbia for fiscal
year ending June thirtieth nineteen hundred and fourteen and for other purposes, approved
March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 974; D.C. Code §43-203) is amended to read as follows: "The
term "public utility" as used in Chapters 1-10 of this title shall mean and
embrace every street railroad, street railroad corporation, common carrier, gas plant, gas
corporation, electric plant, electrical corporation, water and sewer authority, waterpower
company, telephone corporation, telephone line, telegraph corporation, telegraph line, and
pipeline company. For the purposes of this Act, the water and sewer authority established
pursuant to D.C. Law 11-111, or its successor entity, is a public utility.".
Sec. 3. Section 216(b) of the Water- and Sewer Authority Establishment
and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C.
Code §43-1686(b)) is amended to read as follows:
"(b) The Authority shall petition the Public Services Commission to establish and
adjust water and sewer rates as necessary. The water and sewer rates levied by the
Authority shall only be a source of revenue for the maintenance of the District’s supply
of water and sewage systems, and shall constitute a fund exclusively to defray any cost of
the Authority.".
Sec. 4. The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the
committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the
District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code
§1-233(c)(3)).
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or
in the event of a veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval
by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section
203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act
of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Sat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), a 30-day period
of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1)), and
publication in the District of Columbia Register.