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.