Save Money - Incentive for residents to manage stormwater runoff in Portland

Portland's Clean River Rewards program (launched Oct. 31, 2006) allows residents to apply to receive a discount on their utility bill if they manage stormwater runoff. This could be a good thing to mention for people who live in Portland, where this incentive program already exists, or to inspire people who live in other areas to ask for this kind of progressive development in city management. Seems like a very good way to get residenes and comercial businesses interested in managing stormwater.

Check out the discount calculator!

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Registration Types

Different types of property are uniquely billed for stormwater charges. Because of this, the discount program is divided into two categories for registration purposes: residential, which includes single family and duplex properties and commercial, which includes commercial, multi-family residential (3 units or greater), industrial, and institutional properties. If you are unsure which of these categories you are being billed for, check your utility bill and look at your billing type.

Program Requirements

• You must register to receive a discount
• For residential properties, the discount is based on managing stormwater runoff from roof areas only.
• For commercial properties, the discount is based on managing stormwater runoff from both roof and paved areas.
• How you manage stormwater cannot threaten or damage property or the environment
• The maximum discount is 100% of the on-site stormwater charge.
• The discount remains in effect through June 2017. To maintain the discount, the utility account must remain active, stormwater facilities must be properly maintained and operated, and the City must be granted access to the property for limited inspections of stormwater facilities
• The city will charge penalties and retract awarded discounts if a ratepayer files a fraudulent registration.

Ratepayers that are able to manage only a portion of their stormwater runoff are encouraged to apply for the discount. Partial credit is available on a sliding scale for properties that manage any portion of stormwater on their site, including partial credits for tree coverage and a credit for residential properties that have less than 1,000 ft² of total impervious area (roofs, driveways and paved areas).

If you currently manage stormwater on your property, then you already qualify for Clean River Rewards. If you would like further assistance on stormwater management, the online technical assistance page provides ratepayers with resources on how to retrofit properties with safe and effective stormwater management techniques. Options range from simply disconnecting your downspouts to landscaped areas or rain gardens to installing drywells and soakage trenches. The City also offers workshops on stormwater management options and discount calculators to help calculate your discount.

Registration Verification

The City will process Clean River Rewards registrations without conducting a site visit to verify the accuracy of ratepayer registrations. However, the City will randomly visit sites to verify private stormwater facilities. The City may impose civil penalties and recover stormwater discounts in cases where the ratepayer has filed a fraudulent application or failed to keep their private stormwater facilities in good operating condition.

Program Costs

The Bureau anticipates that 112,000 ratepayers will apply and qualify for stormwater discounts. The first year program costs will include $10 million for discounted user fees, $9.2 million for retroactive credits, and about $2 million for accounting systems and customer support services.