AI-assisted research summary: The authority may set and collect water-related fees and charges, and the board must exempt certain wells and cannot apply the charge to certain wells.
Sec. 8815.103. FEES, USER FEES, RATES, AND CHARGES. (a) The authority may establish fees, user fees, rates, and charges and classifications of payers of fees and rates as necessary to enable the authority to fulfill the authority's purposes and regulatory functions provided by this chapter. The authority may impose fees, user fees, rates, and charges on any person within the authority. (b) The authority may charge the owner of a well located within the authority's boundaries a fee or user fee according to the amount of water pumped from the well. (c) The board shall make reasonable efforts to send member districts written notice of the date, time, and location of the meeting at which the board intends to adopt a proposed charge under Subsection (b) and the amount of the proposed charge. The board's failure to comply with this subsection does not invalidate a charge adopted by the board under Subsection (b). (d) The board shall exempt from the charge under Subsection (b) classes of wells that are not subject to any groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence district. If any of those classes of wells become subject to a groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence district, the authority may impose the charge under Subsection (b) on those classes. The board by rule may exempt any other classes of wells from the charge under Subsection (b). The board may not apply the charge under Subsection (b) to a well: (1) with a casing diameter of less than five inches that serves only a single-family dwelling; or (2) regulated under Chapter 27, Water Code. (e) The authority may establish fees, user fees, rates, and charges that are sufficient to: (1) achieve water conservation; (2) prevent waste of water; (3) serve as a disincentive to pumping groundwater; (4) develop, implement, or enforce a groundwater reduction plan; (5) accomplish the purposes of this chapter, including making available alternative water supplies; (6) enable the authority to meet operation and maintenance expenses; (7) pay the principal of and interest on notes, bonds, and other obligations issued in connection with the exercise of the authority's general powers and duties; and (8) satisfy all rate covenants relating to the issuance of notes, bonds, and other obligations. (f) The authority may charge rates established by the authority for water purchased from the authority. (g) The authority may impose fees, user fees, or charges for the importation of water into the authority's boundaries from a source located outside the authority's boundaries. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 656 (H.B. 3181), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.