PORT ANGELES — The city of Port Angeles is moving forward with a proposed ordinance that would require utility customers to continue paying base service rates, even if they voluntarily shut off their utility services for extended periods.
Under the current system, residents can temporarily disconnect their utilities, including power and water, without paying the base rate.
City Manager Nathan West says the current practice shifts infrastructure and maintenance costs onto other ratepayers.
“The base rate is designed to cover the costs of providing power, water, and utility connectivity to customers. These costs include staff, infrastructure, and other expenses that must be paid regardless of whether a customer’s power is on or off. If a customer turns off their power and doesn’t pay the base rate, those costs are effectively shifted to other ratepayers, raising an issue of fairness,” West said in an interview Newsradio KONP’s “Todd Ortloff Show.”
The proposed change aligns with the city’s 2025-26 strategic plan, which includes addressing issues with vacant properties and utility accounts. Officials indicated that Phase 2 of the effort could involve implementing base rate charges for general vacant properties to cover the cost of maintaining utility access.
The measure, referred to as the utility base rate ordinance, had its first reading at the Dec. 3 city council meeting and is expected to be approved during the Dec. 17 session after a second reading.