What's a Winter Period?

Many residential customers (single and two-family homes) use a lot of water during the warmer months that never enters the sewer system (e.g., for watering lawns, gardening). Since the commodity charge is based on water usage, MSD uses a customer’s average water consumption during the winter months of January, February, and March as the maximum water usage per month for the rest of the year, April - December. This is called the “winter period.” In the months of January, February, and March, the commodity charge for residential customers is based on the actual amount of water used. In the months of April through December, the commodity charge is based on whichever is less: (a) the actual amount of water used in that month or (b) the maximum water usage set during the winter period. See the example below for how to calculate the maximum water usage. If there are greater or less than 30 days of service, the amount is prorated.

 

A new winter period maximum water usage rate is established each year during the winter period. New accounts without a history of winter period consumption are billed at a maximum default of 8 CCF for single-family homes and 12 CCF for two-family homes.

 

Example of How to Calculate Maximum Water Usage During the Winter Period