Dear Brushy Creek MUD residents,

We wanted to inform you about updates we’ve made to BCMUD utility statements that are meant to make it easier to understand your monthly utility statement and provide greater insight into your account. Updates to your monthly utility bill are shown below:

• The updated utility statements include a more specific description of how each bill is broken down. This includes a customer’s previous account balance and payments received, as well as a section containing any late charges, disconnection and reconnection fees, and any start/stop of solid waste service fees.
• When applicable, the new statements contain information that reflects any costs associated with a customer’s meter and transmitter activity.
• The graphs on the updated utility bills now reflect a customer’s usage for the month of consumption, not the billing month.

Fees that may appear on a utility statement are as follows:

Standard Fees & Charges:

• Convenience Fee: This is a service fee for online credit card payments made through the customer portal. This does not apply to recurring credit card payments.
• Emergency Management and Hazard Mitigation Fee: This fee establishes a reserve for, and otherwise funds, emergency response and hazard mitigation services that include tree and debris removal on District lands, providing residential brush drop-off collection and disposal services during extraordinary storm events, and shaded fuel break fire mitigation services on District lands.
• Garbage Fee: This fee is charged based on the amount of solid waste and recycling carts a customer uses.
• Garbage Sales Tax: This is a sales tax on the Garbage Fee.
• Land Management and Park Maintenance Fee: This fee contributes to the cost of development and maintenance of District parks and recreational facilities, including parklands, amenities, and recreational programming pursuant to Section 49.464 of the Texas Water Code.
• State Assessment: This is a state-assessed fee based on water and sewer usage.
• Stormwater Drainage Fee: This fee is charged to ensure the District maintains regulatory compliance with regard to water and wastewater operations.
• Water Rates: This is the base fee charged depending on meter size and water usage per 1,000 gallons.

Additional Utility Charges:

• After Hours Service Request Surcharge: This fee is charged in addition to the same-day surcharge if water disconnection or reconnection is requested between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. and completed in that same time period.
  • NOTE: Same Day, Weekend, Holiday, and After-Hours Surcharges are cumulative. For example, a person who schedules same-day service on a holiday and after hours would be subject to the Service Administration Fee, an additional Same-Day Service Surcharge, an additional Holiday Service Request Surcharge, and the After-Hours Service Request Surcharge.
• Backflow Device Testing Fee: This fee applies to the testing of backflow prevention assembly systems to protect the public water system from contamination.
• Civil Penalty Fee: This fee is charged when a customer tampers with or steals District water or water infrastructure, such as a water meter.
• Disconnect Non-payment Fee: This is a processing fee that is charged when the process begins to disconnect water service for non-payment. 
• Drought Non-Compliance Fee: This fee may be charged to customers who do not comply with District drought restriction regulations.
• Inspection Fee: This fee is charged whenever any inspection is required to proceed with a project.
• Erosion Control Fine: This fee applies to construction that occurs on District land without an approved Erosion Control Plan and no erosion control facilities in place.
• Late Payment Fee: This fee is charged if a utility bill is not paid by the due date.
• NSF Fee: This fee is charged when a payment is returned.
• Parks & Recreation Fee: This fee is applied to new construction within the District.
• Permit Fee: This fee is charged for permit applications.
• Reconnect/Disconnect Fee: This fee is charged for voluntary reconnections or disconnections of water service. It also applies to any service disconnection or connection associated with water leaks performed between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.
• Reconnect Non-Payment Fee: This fee is charged to reconnect water service after disconnection due to non-payment.
• Reinspection Fees: This fee is charged for any additional inspections required for a project after an initial inspection.
• Residential Plan Review Fee: This fee applies to a residential construction plan review fewer than 10 pages. Additional fees are applied to additional pages.
• Same Day Service Request Surcharge: This fee is charged if water is disconnected or reconnected on the same day as the request from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Service Administration Fee: This fee is associated with service connection, disconnection or transfer of service.
• Service Commitment Application Fee: This is a commitment fee that applies to plan reviews for new construction.
• Site Development Fee: This fee applies to construction plans up to 25 pages and excludes single-family residences. Additional fees are applied to additional pages.
• Trash Service Stop/Restart Fee: This fee is charged when a customer requests to start or stop solid waste and recycling services.
• Trail Easement Access: This fee applies to a Trail and Easement Permit application.
• Wastewater Fee: This charge combines a base fee with a four-month water consumption average from November through February of the previous year. (For new residents without prior usage history, the fee is based on average usage of 7,000 gallons.)
• Wastewater Connection/Tap Fee: This fee is charged for any wastewater tap installation related to new construction.
• Water Capital Recovery Fee: This fee applies to any use of water from connections used for non-fire protection purposes.
• Weekend & Holiday Service Request Surcharge: This fee is charged if water disconnection or reconnection is requested on a weekend, or holiday, and is disconnected or reconnected between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the same weekend or holiday.

Every improvement we make is guided by our commitment to serving our residents with transparency, accountability, and respect. If you have further questions or concerns regarding these changes, please reach out to BCMUD Customer Service at 512-255-7871, or email customerservice@bcmud.org.

Thank you for being part of the Brushy Creek Life. We're proud to serve this community and will continue looking for ways to improve your experience.