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3. Cost of Service • 3.6 FIRE PROTECTION RATES IRCDUS incurs costs to provide fire protection services throughout its water distribution system to ensure the availability and appropriate pressure of water to address firefighting needs. Fire protection (both public and private) services differ from the other water services provided by IRCDUS in that these services are provided on a standby basis and are not extensively used but must be available. Utilities provide public fire protection via a network of fire hydrants often located within rights-of-way for the benefit of the system. Customers with private fire protection services are usually commercial or large residential customers with dedicated lines for additional fire protection beyond what a water system provides in overall system public fire protection. For cost recovery purposes, IRCDUS has historically recognized that costs associated with the provision of public fire protection are shared amongst all the system's customers through their user rates and charges and assesses a charge for its approximately 250 customers with private fire lines with standby service. One of the methodologies outlined in the AWWA Manual of Water Supply Practices M1, Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges, seventh edition, which utilities may use to determine the total costs is use of the Maine Public Utilities Commission fire protection curve which is based on population and peak hour water demands23. As such, Stantec reviewed the Utility's water system cost of service, peak hour demands, and population served to identify the portion of system costs associated with providing public and private fire protection. After identifying the total fire protection costs, Stantec identified the Utility's units of service (i.e., number of public and private fire hydrants and private fire lines) and the unit costs associated with providing private fire protection which are summarized in Schedule 9 of Appendix B. Table 15 summarizes the proposed rates for IRCDUS' private fire line customers. Table 15 — Fire Protection Rates: Existing and Proposed C] 23 This approach was relied upon as IRCDUS does not have a recent base extra capacity or commodity demand cost allocation study. 24 IRCDUS provides fire protection services to approximately 250 private fire lines throughout the potable water system. a 25 Description Current (FY 2024) Proposed (FY 2025) Private Fire Protection24 (per month) $17.23 $36.57 C] 23 This approach was relied upon as IRCDUS does not have a recent base extra capacity or commodity demand cost allocation study. 24 IRCDUS provides fire protection services to approximately 250 private fire lines throughout the potable water system. a 25