The Commission shall set a service rate that the Commission considers necessary to provide funds for: maintaining, repairing, and operating its water supply and sewer systems, including the overhead expense and depreciation allowance; and making any payments to the District of Columbia, as specified in this title. The service rate: shall be chargeable against all properties for a connection with any line owned by the Commission; shall be uniform throughout the sanitary district; and may be changed as necessary.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Indirect customer” means an individual who: receives water service or sewer service or both from the Commission; but is not billed by the Commission for the service. “Ratepayer” means an individual who receives a bill directly from the Commission for water service or sewer service or both. Notwithstanding any other law, on or before July 1, 2015, the Commission shall establish a Customer Assistance Program to provide financial assistance with water and sewer bills to eligible ratepayers. The Commission shall establish income eligibility standards for a ratepayer to receive financial assistance under this subsection. Financial assistance provided under this subsection may include the reduction or waiver of fees, including late fees. The Commission may establish an Indirect Customer Assistance Program. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to eligible indirect customers for water and sewer service. If the Commission establishes a program under this subsection, the Commission shall establish income eligibility standards and a process for an indirect customer to receive financial assistance under the program. The Customer Assistance Program and the Indirect Customer Assistance Program shall be funded from Commission revenues. Income eligibility standards for the Customer Assistance Program and the Indirect Customer Assistance Program shall be applied uniformly throughout the sanitary district.

Except as provided in this subtitle, the service rate for water shall consist of: a minimum or a ready to serve charge; and a charge for water used. The minimum or ready to serve charge shall be based on the size of the meter on the water connection leading to the property. The charge for water used shall be based on the amount of water passing the meter during the period between the last two readings. The meter shall be placed on each water connection by and at the expense of the Commission. The Commission may provide that a specified minimum number of gallons of water: be included in the minimum or ready to serve charge without additional service charges for the water; and may vary with the size of the meter involved. If the Commission furnishes water to a federal, State, or other unit of government that is exempt from benefit charges or ad valorem taxes imposed under this division, the Commission shall set the water service charge at an amount the Commission considers necessary and reasonable. In setting the charge, the Commission shall take into consideration the general tax, the benefit charge imposed in the sanitary district, and the regular service rate as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. If, because of public necessity, the Commission has extended the Commission’s water system outside the boundaries of the sanitary district to render a needed service, the Commission may pay for the extension out of its funds. The Commission may set any charge that it considers reasonable for all connections to its water system made outside of the sanitary district. In setting the charge the Commission shall take into consideration the general tax and front foot benefit charge imposed in the sanitary district. The Commission has the same authority over connections made to the Commission’s water system outside the sanitary district as it has in the sanitary district. On request by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Laurel, the Commission shall furnish water from the Patuxent River supply to the city. The service rate for the water supplied by the Commission to the City of Laurel shall be at the actual cost of supplying the water to the city’s water system. The Mayor and City Council of the City of Laurel may construct a system to receive water from the Commission to the nearest convenient point to the Commission’s Patuxent River supply. The connection point between the Commission’s system and the city’s water system must be at or near the Commission’s dam.

Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this section, the Commission shall impose a sewer usage charge, based on the water consumption of each property, against all properties connected to the Commission’s sewer system to provide funds for: payment of principal and interest for bonds authorized under § 22–102(a) and (b) of this article; maintenance of the sewer system and disposal facilities, including the overhead expense and depreciation allowance; and payments to the District of Columbia for disposal of sanitary district sewage. The Commission shall impose a sewer usage charge against the property of a federal, State, or other unit of government that is: exempt from front foot benefit charges and ad valorem taxes imposed under this division; and connected to the Commission’s sewer system. In setting the charge, the Commission shall take into consideration the general tax, the front foot benefit charge imposed in the sanitary district, and the regular sewer usage charge as provided in this section. If the Commission furnishes sewer service to a property that is not connected to the Commission’s water system, the Commission shall impose a sewer usage charge that: fairly and ratably compensates the Commission for the use of the sewer system; and takes into consideration the sewer usage on the property and the sewer usage charge applicable to similar properties connected to the water system. The Commission shall bill for the amount of the sewer usage charge under this subsection monthly, twice a year, or once a year. Subject to paragraphs (2) and (5) of this subsection, if water furnished by the Commission to a lot or parcel of land is used exclusively for any purpose that results in the water not entering the Commission’s sewer system, the Commission may not impose a sewer usage charge to the owner, tenant, or occupant of a lot or parcel of land for the amount of the water furnished by the Commission that does not enter the Commission’s sewer system. The owner, tenant, or occupant of a lot or parcel of land exempt under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall pay the Commission: the cost of installing a separate metered connection; and an annual amount equal to the Commission’s annual water service charge for the size of the meter installed. The Commission shall determine the location for the installation of the required meter. The Commission may adopt regulations regarding the maintenance and control of the meter. The sewer usage charge for properties under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be based on the total amount of water used as determined under § 25–502(a) and (b) of this subtitle, less the amount of separately metered water. A commercial, industrial, or multiresidential property may use a separate metered connection as provided in subsection (d) of this section, even though a portion of the separately metered water enters the sewer system of the Commission, provided that the owner, tenant, or occupant of the property requests to be billed according to a formula determined by the Commission. The formula determined by the Commission under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: credit the owner, tenant, or occupant for separately metered water not entering the sewer system of the Commission; and be consistent with: manufacturers’ engineering standards for the class of equipment using the separately metered water supplied by the Commission; or industry standards for the class of operations using the separately metered water supplied by the Commission. The sewer usage charge for properties under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be based on the sum of: the total amount of water used as determined under § 25–502(a) and (b) of this subtitle, less the amount of separately metered water; and the amount of separately metered water as adjusted by the formula described in paragraph (2) of this subsection. This section may not be construed to invalidate an existing contract between the Commission and a municipality located in the sanitary district without the consent of the municipality.

The Commission: may provide for the billing and collection of the water and sewer usage charges on an estimated basis for periods of 6 months or less, based on the historical daily average consumption calculated from actual previous usage; shall read the meter at least once every 6 months; and shall base the final bill for the 6–month period on the actual consumption adjusted by previous estimates, if the meter had not been read because it was inaccessible; shall base the final bill for the 6–month period on the historical daily average consumption, calculated from actual previous usage, if a final reading cannot be made because: the meter malfunctioned; the meter had been taken out of service for repairs, maintenance, or water system relining purposes; or there was theft of service; may modify the historical daily average consumption calculation based on appropriate evidence submitted by the owner; and may not base a final bill on estimated usage for two consecutive 6–month periods. The Commission shall bill for the amount of water and sewer usage charges to each property served monthly, every other month, four times a year, or twice a year, as the Commission determines. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Commission shall bill on a fixed periodic basis, such as monthly or quarterly billing, without the use of estimated billing. Subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph may not be construed to endorse any particular technology or approach to implementing the intent of the General Assembly. On receipt each bill is payable to the Commission. A late payment charge of 5% of the unpaid charges shall be added and collected as part of the bill if: the Commission sends out a bill for water and sewer usage charges in the regular course of business; for a service period of less than 3 months, the bill is not paid 20 days from the date of sending; or for a service period of 3 months or more, the bill is not paid 30 days from the date of sending. The late payment charge is in addition to and not in substitution for or derogation of any other right or remedy granted to the Commission by any other law. If a bill is not paid within 30 days after the date of sending, after leaving written notice on the premises or mailing notice to the owner’s last known address, the Commission shall turn off the water to the property. The water may not be turned on again until the bill, any late payment penalty charges as authorized by law, and the cost incurred in shutting off and restoring the water supply are paid. If a bill is not paid within 60 days after the date of sending, the bill shall be collected against the owner of the property served in the same manner as other debts are collected in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. This subsection applies only to property subject to a condominium regime established under Title 11 of the Real Property Article. Notwithstanding any other law, if the Commission directly bills the governing body of a condominium or a person designated by the governing body of a condominium for water or sewer usage charges for all or a portion of the units in a condominium property, and a charge is in default for at least 60 days, the Commission shall post notice conspicuously at or near the entry to the common area of the condominium. The Commission may enter onto the common area of a condominium property at a reasonable time to post the notice required under this subsection. The provisions of subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) of this section that relate solely to sewer usage charges may not be construed to invalidate an existing contract between the Commission and a municipality located in the sanitary district without the consent of the municipality. On or before November 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, the Commission shall report to the county councils for Montgomery County and Prince George’s County the total number of customers in the immediately preceding year that reported bills exceeding the limits for high bill adjustments under the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Code of Regulations.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Acquiring authority” means the State, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, or any municipality or unit of the State, Montgomery County, or Prince George’s County. “Bill for water and sewer usage charges” includes, if applicable, the late payment penalty provided under § 25–504(c) of this subtitle. Before acquiring property in the sanitary district, an acquiring authority shall: determine if any bill for water and sewer usage charges is outstanding against the property; and require the payment of any outstanding bill for water or sewer charges on the property before acquiring the property. If a bill for water and sewer usage charges is not paid before an acquiring authority acquires the property, the acquiring authority shall: deduct the amount of the bill from the purchase price of the property; and pay the amount of the bill over to the Commission. If the bill for water or sewer usage charges is not paid when the acquisition of the property is completed, the acquiring authority: is responsible for the bill; and shall pay the bill to the Commission on demand.

In this section, “charitable institution” means an institution: that is located in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County; and whose purpose is primarily charitable. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if a charitable institution does not discriminate against the entrance or care of residents of Montgomery County or Prince George’s County, the Commission: shall supply without cost up to 100 gallons of water per day for each resident of the charitable institution; and may not charge the charitable institution a fee for sewer usage for the water supplied under item (1) of this subsection. The charitable institution shall install and maintain a water meter at its own cost. The Commission may charge the charitable institution for: the cost of reading the water meter; and sewer usage and water used in excess of 100 gallons per day for each resident of the charitable institution.

This section may not be construed to invalidate a contract between the Commission and a municipality located in the sanitary district without the consent of the municipality. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Commission shall charge and collect its service rate for water, including a ready to serve charge, for all water used by: the State; Montgomery County; Prince George’s County; and a municipality in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County. Notwithstanding any other law, a fire department or rescue squad that is recognized by Montgomery County or Prince George’s County or that is maintained and operated by a municipality in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County is exempt from all Commission water and sewer usage charges and meter service charges.

This section applies only in Prince George’s County. There is an Office of Prince George’s County Ombudsman in the Commission. The Prince George’s County Executive, with the approval of the Prince George’s County Council, shall appoint an Ombudsman. Prince George’s County shall: pay the Ombudsman’s salary; provide to the Ombudsman any benefits available to other employees of Prince George’s County; and provide funding for the Office of the Ombudsman. The county may pay for any legal expenses incurred by the Ombudsman, as provided in the county budget. The Prince George’s County Council shall determine the salary of the Ombudsman. While holding office, the Ombudsman may participate in any Commission program of group health, life, or disability insurance to the same extent and under the same terms as other Commission officers and employees. The Ombudsman may represent the interests of a Prince George’s County residential or commercial customer who files a written claim with the Commission for: a refund of a payment on a bill for water and sewer usage charges that exceeds the amount that is properly and legally payable; or a reduction in a bill for water and sewer usage charges that exceeds the amount that is properly and legally payable that has not yet been paid. The Ombudsman: shall: receive a copy of, and review, any written claim filed with the Commission under § 25–106(b) of this title; investigate the merits of the claim; attend any hearing held in accordance with § 25–106(c)(2) of this title and present any findings and recommendations on the merits of the claim during the hearing; and prepare a written statement of findings and recommendations on the claim and provide copies of the statement to the Commission and the claimant; and may represent the customer in any appeal process. Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, as to Prince George’s County residential customers, if all undisputed bills for water and sewer usage charges are paid when due, the Commission may not interrupt service during the pendency of a written claim filed for a reduction in a bill for water and sewer usage charges that exceeds the amount that is properly and legally payable.