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An ordinance authorizing a one-time bill credit to water and sewer users as a result of the January 2026 winter storm.
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WHEREAS, on January 24-25, 2026, a significant winter storm struck Davidson County, causing widespread damage to homes and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the damage from the storm resulted in the Declaration of a State of Emergency by Mayor Freddie O’Connell; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 15.32 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws sets forth water rates and charges, and water users are billed based upon water consumption as registered through their meter per CCF (100 cubic feet) and those who purchase water may also pay sewer fees as set forth in Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 15.44; and
WHEREAS, during record cold temperatures exacerbated by a coating of snow and ice, Davidson County residents were urged to drip their faucets to prevent their water pipes from freezing and subsequently cracking or bursting; and
WHEREAS, residents who followed this recommendation significantly lowered the risk that they would experience such an occurrence and face hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage;
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County desires to assist its water and sewer users who may experience water bill increases from dripping faucets by issuing a one-time bill credit to water and sewer customers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. As a result of the impacts of the January 2026 winter storm, the director of the department of water and sewerage services is authorized to provide a one-time bill credit to its customers who pay both water charges and sewer fees - as follows:
|
2 CCF Credit |
|
Residential |
|
Commercial |
|
|
|
Water |
Sewer |
Total |
|
Water |
Sewer |
Total |
|
Volume |
|
$8.41 |
$14.04 |
|
|
$6.62 |
$14.04 |
|
|
State Tax |
|
$0.59 |
|
|
|
$0.46 |
|
|
|
City Tax |
|
$0.23 |
|
|
|
$0.18 |
|
|
|
WIR Fee |
|
$0.84 |
|
|
|
$0.66 |
|
|
|
SIR Fee |
|
|
$1.40 |
|
|
|
$1.40 |
|
|
Total One-Time Credit |
|
$10.07 |
$15.44 |
$25.51 |
|
$7.93 |
$15.44 |
$23.37 |
Section 2. As a result of the impacts of the January 2026 winter storm, the director of the department of water and sewerage services is authorized to provide a one-time bill credit to its customers who pay water charges but not sewer fees - as follows:
|
2 CCF Credit |
|
Residential |
|
Commercial |
|
|
|
|
Water |
|
|
|
Water |
|
|
Volume |
|
|
$8.41 |
|
|
|
$6.62 |
|
|
State Tax |
|
|
$0.59 |
|
|
|
$0.46 |
|
|
City Tax |
|
|
$0.23 |
|
|
|
$0.18 |
|
|
WIR Fee |
|
|
$0.84 |
|
|
|
$0.66 |
|
|
Total One-Time Credit |
|
|
$10.07 |
|
|
|
$7.93 |
|
Section 3. The director of the department of water and sewerage services is authorized to suspend discontinuation of service for non-payment and suspend charges for late payment. They are further authorized to approve payment plans of up to six months for all users having difficulty making full payment.
Section 4. Amendments to this legislation may be approved by resolution.
Section 5. That this ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance authorizes a one-time bill credit to customers of the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services as a result of the January 2026 ice storm.
The proposal would authorize the Director of the Department of Water and Sewerage Services to provide the following credit to customers who pay both water charges and sewer fees:
|
2 CCF Credit |
|
Residential |
|
Commercial |
|
|
|
Water |
Sewer |
Total |
|
Water |
Sewer |
Total |
|
Volume |
|
$8.41 |
$14.04 |
|
|
$6.62 |
$14.04 |
|
|
State Tax |
|
$0.59 |
|
|
|
$0.46 |
|
|
|
City Tax |
|
$0.23 |
|
|
|
$0.18 |
|
|
|
WIR Fee |
|
$0.84 |
|
|
|
$0.66 |
|
|
|
SIR Fee |
|
|
$1.40 |
|
|
|
$1.40 |
|
|
Total One-Time Credit |
|
$10.07 |
$15.44 |
$25.51 |
|
$7.93 |
$15.44 |
$23.37 |
The ordinance would further allow the Director of the Department of Water and Sewerage Services to provide the following credit to customers who pay water charges only:
|
2 CCF Credit |
|
Residential |
|
Commercial |
|
|
|
|
Water |
|
|
|
Water |
|
|
Volume |
|
|
$8.41 |
|
|
|
$6.62 |
|
|
State Tax |
|
|
$0.59 |
|
|
|
$0.46 |
|
|
City Tax |
|
|
$0.23 |
|
|
|
$0.18 |
|
|
WIR Fee |
|
|
$0.84 |
|
|
|
$0.66 |
|
|
Total One-Time Credit |
|
|
$10.07 |
|
|
|
$7.93 |
|
The ordinance would also authorize the Director of the Department of Water and Sewerage Services to suspend discontinuation of service for non-payment, suspend charges for late payment, and approve payment plans of up to six months for all users having difficulty making full payment.
Amendments to this ordinance may be approved by resolution.
Fiscal Note: Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services (“MWS”) data indicates that approximately 42,000 of the 230,000 total MWS customers experienced an ice storm related usage increase of 1 to 7 CCF related to the dripping of faucets. This increase generates between $1,200,000 and $1,400,000 in additional revenue. However, state law mandates that any credits given will be applied across the entire customer base, including those whose usage remained flat or exceeded 7 CCF. Therefore, MWS would provide two Centum Cubic Feet (“CCF”) one-time credit for the water bill increases for total estimated credit of $5,984,852.55. Due to the frequency of changes at locations and number of services remaining constant, the credit was based on the number of services rather than the number of customers. According to MWS, this estimated credit amount overstates the potential credit amount because MWS will only grant an account a single credit amount regardless of the number of meters present at a location and is applicable only to accounts in an active status.
|
|
2 CCF Credit Amount |
Number of Services |
Total Credit Amount |
|
Water/Sewer Services |
|
|
|
|
Residential |
$25.51 |
198,042 |
$5,052,051.42 |
|
Commercial |
$23.37 |
31,689 |
$740,571.93 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water Only |
|
|
|
|
Residential |
$10.07 |
9,252 |
$93,167.64 |
|
Commercial |
$7.93 |
12,492 |
$99,061.56 |
|
Grand Total |
|
251,475 |
$5,984,852.55 |