MSC OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2024. WE WILL REOPEN FOR REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS MONDAY, APRIL 01,2024
POWER OUTAGE ON JACQUETTE – We are aware of a power outage on Jacquette, our crews are on site. Estimated return of service 3-4pm
A LETTER TO OUR CUSTOMERS FROM COMMISSIONER DAVID ATHERTON
Dear MSC Customer,
We know that our citizens need a voice in spending their hard-earned money. Our forefathers understood that local control of the utilities is far better than paying an investor-owned utility whose first concern is turning a profit. Local control ensures our common goal of reliability, quality customer service, and low cost.
- With the 16.8% inflation over the last 3 years, utilities will need to make rate adjustments.
- Even after our modest rate increase (average $5.71 a month), MSC currently has the second lowest residential rates in the state.
- On the other hand, our neighboring for-profit water utility filed for a 23.84% increase in water rates, far exceeding our rate increase.
The MSC rate consultant, Utility Financial Solutions, is a trusted industry professional who completes a comprehensive financial projection and rate design every year. We review their results carefully.
- MSC is always looking for efficiencies balanced with quality and reliability.
- MSC has applied for and received state and federal assistance for the installation and maintenance of many parts of the system.
- Most of our projects are completed in-house to ensure the cost and quality of installation.
- The MSC has worked hard and is successfully mitigating PFAS contamination and costs.
- MSC Staff is nationally recognized for its expertise and exhibits a can-do attitude for getting the job done for New Castle.
MSC…keeping the water and lights on since 1921.
David Atherton
Commission President
Municipal Services Commission
FOR SALE: MUELLER 100 1/2″-2″ & MUELER CC 2″- 6″ TAPPING MACHINES
MSC is accepting separate sealed bids for each tapping Machine
Sealed bids must be received by 1:00 pm on February 9, 2024 at the Commission’s Administrative Offices at 216 Chestnut Street, New Castle DE 19720.
MUELLER 100 1/2″-2″ TAPPING MACHINE
MUELLER 100 1/2″-2″ TAPPING MACHINE
MUELLER 100 1/2″-2″ TAPPING MACHINE
Mueller CC 2″ – 6″ Tapping Machine
Mueller CC 2″ – 6″ Tapping Machine
Mueller CC 2″ – 6″ Tapping Machine
WATER and ELECTRIC RATES TO BE INCREASED
WATER and ELECTRIC RATES TO BE INCREASED – Municipal Services Commission’s (MSC) rate design consultant, Utility Financial Solutions (UFS), recommended a 10% overall water revenue increase and a 0.8% overall electric revenue increase after reviewing the financial projection. These rate increase will be effective with the February 1, 2024 bills and results in an average residential customer experiencing an increase in their monthly bill of approximately $5.71. The MSC is sensitive to customers experiencing additional financial burden, please reach out to the customer service department at 302-323-2330 to find out about agencies that provide assistance.
NEWS RELEASE MSC INCREASES THE POWER PURCHASE ADJUSTMENT (PPA)
MSC increases the Power Purchase Adjustment (PPA)
The Municipal Services Commission (MSC) is increasing the Power Purchase Adjustment (PPA) on their electric rates. The PPA is a mechanism that Electric Utilities use when there is an unexpected increase in power supply costs but needs time to appropriately design an electric rate. The current PPA is $0.0082 per kwh and will increase by $0.00704 per kwh. Increasing the PPA will impact the average residential electric customer approximately $5.20 per month.
Over the last year and a half Delaware rate payers have been required to pay for The Indian River Power Plant to stay operational due to reliability concerns on the transmission grid. NRG, the owner of the coal fired power plant, intends on closing the remaining generator at this location due to increased regulatory costs.
A second item that is driving up power supply costs are the Transmission rates. This portion of the power supply cost is up 17.5%. Transmission upgrades are needed before the Indian River Power Plant can be retired.
The MSC is working with Utility Financial Solutions (UFS) on a rate design which the MSC plans to adopt before our April 1, 2024 start of our fiscal year. The rate design will cover these increased costs and reset the PPA back to zero.
The MSC has the lowest residential electric rate in the State of Delaware. Even with the increased PPA, we believe we will continue to be the lowest or a close second when the rate changes go in affect in April.
Please feel free to contact the MSC at 302-323-2330 if you have any concerns.
IMPORTANT UPDATE NOTICE TO OUR WATER CUSTOMERS Hewlett, Janvier, and Megginson Avenues Water Main Replacement Project Update #3
C U S T O M E R N O T I C E
Project Update – The new water main tie-in work on Wilmington Road has been completed. All new water main work is now in service. The Contractor will begin Milling and Paving on Hewlett, Janvier, and Megginson Avenues on Monday, December 11th and plans to be completed by Friday, December 15th. During this time there will be No Parking on the roadway from 6:00am till 6:00pm while the contractor completes this road work. Please plan accordingly while this work gets completed.
Final topsoil, seeding, and strawing will be performed as the weather allows but may not be completed until the spring of 2024.
MSC respectfully requests your cooperation during this water main replacement project and regrets any inconvenience it may cause to our customers. Every effort possible will be taken to minimize disruption to our customers, however with a project of this size and complexity there will be temporary inconveniences that are unavoidable.
If you have a special need we should know about or give special consideration to, please contact Jay Guyer – Water Utility Manager or Ryan Jaeger – Water Utility Supervisor at 302-323-2333 or 302-323-2334 between 7:00am and 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Thank You.
NEWS RELEASE WATER METER REPLACEMENT
NEWS RELEASE
WATER METER REPLACEMENT
The Municipal Services Commission (MSC) is coming to the end of its electric and water meter replacement project. The batteries in the existing water meter communication modules have been failing. The meters still read accurately but it requires a manual read. Many customers have been providing the manual read each month but on other meters, staff has to visit the meter each month to get billing reads or estimate the read. This is a very time-consuming process for staff and an inconvenience to our customers. The new system will allow customers and staff to monitor usage to find leaks and help customers understand their usage for conservation purposes. There are a few customers that still have not scheduled their water meter replacement. Pursuant to MSC’s Tariff, customers are required to provide access to their premises to allow MSC and its agents to service our water meters. Three postcards were mailed to customers by MSC’s contractor, additionally, MSC mailed a letter via USPS, added messages on customers’ bills, hung door hangers at their premises, and sent several automated phone notifications. MSC having access to its equipment is a condition of service that customers agree to when they sign for service.
Regrettably, on Wednesday, November 8th, MSC opted to disconnect electric service to these unresponsive customers as State Law requires premises to maintain water service for sanitary reasons. MSC must notify the City Building and Health Departments when water service is disconnected as the customer is no longer allowed to occupy the property. MSC verified that none of the customers being disconnected had a medical form on file that would limit disconnection of service. When the customer schedules their meter replacement with our contractor then calls MSC with this information, services are restored. A majority of customers that were disconnected had scheduled an appointment and were reconnected the same day. MSC will continue taking steps towards disconnection of water service for non-compliant customers as needed. If you have not scheduled your meter replacement, please contact MSC’s contractor Pro Meters, Inc. at 1-866-965-0658 then contact MSC when your meter replacement is scheduled to have services restored.
Contact: Scott Blomquist
Phone: 302-323-2330
E-mail: sblomquist@newcastlemsc.delaware.gov
URGENT NOTICE – ELECTRIC SERVICES WERE DISCONNECTED TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE NOT SCHEDULED WATER METER REPLACEMENT
On Wednesday, November 8, 2023 MSC began disconnecting services to customers who have not scheduled to have their water meters replaced.
Pursuant to the tariff of the MSC, customers are required to provide access to their water meters to the MSC and its agents. Three postcards were mailed by MSC’s contractor, additionally, MSC sent a letter via USPS and several automated phone notifications.
Affected customers must call 1-866-965-0658 to schedule an appointment between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:30 pm Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am and 6:30 pm on Fridays or Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Once an appointment has been scheduled, the customer can call MSC’s main line and speak with a customer service representative, or reach the on call phone and leave a message. If MSC is able to verify an appointment has been scheduled, services will be restored.
Services will not be restored until the customer has made an appointment. If a customer cancels an appointment or is a no show, services will be disconnected until the meter replacement is able to be performed during MSC’s normal operating hours.
IMPORTANT UPDATE NOTICE FOR WATER CUSTOMERS ON HEWLETT, JANVIER, AND MEGGINSON AVENUES
IMPORTANT UPDATE NOTICE TO OUR WATER CUSTOMERS
Hewlett, Janvier, and Megginson Avenues
Water Main Replacement Project Update #1
Project Description – Municipal Services Commission has awarded the water main replacement project to R.E. Pierson Construction Company who mobilized to the site on October 16th to begin the water main replacement project. The project includes replacement of approximately 1,800 linear feet of main within Janvier, Hewlett, and Megginson Avenues, installation of 3 new fire hydrants, and 32 water services being replaced from the main to the curb stop valves.
Work Schedule – The Contractors work schedule has been 4 – 10 Hour days per week or Monday through Thursday 6:00am to 5:00pm. Fridays and Weekends are used to make up for rain days the Contractor is unable to work. MSC and our Consulting Engineer have been on-site performing observing and inspecting the work being performed by the contractor to ensure it meets MSC Standards.
When making the final main tie-ins on Wilmington Road, Del DOT is requiring the contractor to perform this work during the over-night hours to meet safety and traffic control requirements. You will receive advance notice from MSC of the next scheduled over-night work scheduled so you can plan accordingly.
Project Update – The water main has been installed and the contractor is working to get it placed in service. Once in service, the contractor will begin the process of transferring customer’s services from the old main to the new main which is estimated to take 2 weeks. During the individual service transfers, you may experience a short, temporary interruption of water supply to your home however this is only temporary.
Water Service Interruptions – MSC and the Contractor will provide advanced notice of any planned water service interruptions. Due to unforeseen complications, both planned and / or unplanned outages may occur during the project. Every effort will be made to minimize the duration of these outages.
Property Access – The Contractor is making every effort to maintain customer access to their driveway entrances and property. City trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup have not been affected by the project. Mail and package delivery has not been impacted by the project.
Road and Property Restoration – The Contractor will perform temporary roadway and yard restoration during the course of the project and at the end of the project final paving and roadway restoration will be performed. Steel Plates may still be used throughout the duration of the project to cover open excavations.
Project Value and Goal – This $1.5 MM water main replacement project is being funded by a State of Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Loan. MSC applied for and was awarded the loan with full principle forgiveness. The goal of this water main replacement project is to remove lead-joint pipe improving water quality, improve system hydraulics and fire protection, and reduce water loss due to frequent flushing.
MSC respectfully requests your cooperation during this water main replacement project and regrets any inconvenience it may cause to our customers. Every effort possible will be taken to minimize disruption to our customers, however with a project of this size and complexity there will be temporary inconveniences that are unavoidable.
If you have a special need we should know about or give special consideration to, please contact Jay Guyer – Water Utility Manager or Ryan Jaeger – Water Utility Supervisor at 302-323-2333 or 302-323-2334 between 7:00am and 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Thank You.