Title

Delegation de Gestion des Adductions d’Eau Potable dans les Centres Semi-Urbains et Ruraux (2004 version)

Parties

The local authority and the provider

Date

Not specified

Duration

N/A, but renewable (article 5)

Service being provided

Exclusive service of production, transportation and distribution of water to the public within the specified service area  (article 1 and 2)  Clear delineation of where responsibility starts and stops

Investment obligations

Provider is responsible for the cost of maintenance and repairs (art 17) and extensions and strengthening are new works are the responsibility of the local authority (article 21).  Provider is responsible for operating the meters.

Funding source

Revenue.   The tariff consists of the operator charge, a renewal fund and a community charge (art 23 to 26)

Maintenance and rehabilitation requirements

Article 18 and Annex A1.  The water tariff is to cover renewal of equipment (on the basis of 20 year amortization, other than the periods listed in art 18).

Service levels specified

Article 8 requires that service specifications are to be part of the agreement and are to be agreed between the parties.

Water quality is to meet the applicable regulations (art 14) and quantity to meet the requirements of the users.  There is a minimum level of pressure specified (art 14).

Performance targets

N/A

New connections

Article 19.  The cost of a new connection is for the user.

Bonus/penalty system

The provider should establish a guarantee to the local authority before the commencement of its activities. The deposit should be made to the account of funds of rehabilitation/extension of the local authority. (article 17)

Tariff setting - who is responsible

Change of tariff can be demanded by the provider or by the local authority. All changes of tariff and license fee should be approved by a decision of Community Council. (article 27)

Tariff collection

The provider collects the revenue as a whole and then transfers the levy/license fees to the local authority. (article 27)

Payment - does provider keep revenues/get paid fee

The operator keeps revenues (other than payments to be made from revenues). (article 27)

Accounts and reporting

(Art 39 to 41) – semi-annual, annual reports and accounts and also monthly reporting

Capex and renewal

Asset ownership

Community – but a detailed asset register is to be annexed (including age, projected life, state of repair).  It is clear what is to be returned to the Community at the end of the contract.

Is any sum put aside for rehabilitation?

The local authority opens a bank account on its own name to provide funds of rehabilitation/extension. The provider is obliged to make payments of license fee of rehabilitation/extension directly to this account. (article 25)

Regulator/monitoring body?

Community (art 43) and the Direction Nationale  de l’Hydraulique (44)

Dispute resolution

Reconciliation; litigation through administrative tribunal. (art 34)

Customer complaints mechanism

The local authority serves to resolve matters between the users and the provider such as breach of the rules of use by users. (article 47)

Other

Performance security to be provided by provider (20% annual revenue)