From KMPUD to you, We wish everyone a safe and memorable holiday season!

In This Issue:

We’re near the end of a months-long process to decide on the future of fire and emergency services at Kirkwood. The KMPUD board has voted to proceed with the formal Proposition 218 Kirkwood-wide vote early in 2026. We’re holding one final public meeting to answer questions on December 30, 6:00 pm in the KMPUD meeting room and on Zoom.

You likely know by now that we’ve negotiated with Alpine County Fire Department to staff at least one full-time firefighter in Kirkwood at all times and all  year long (3 FTEs) in a model that will integrate our existing voluntary corps. We’ve voted to reallocate property tax proceeds away from utilities in order to help fund this. We’ve settled on a methodology for a monthly Fire Services Fee that allocates costs to property owners based on the benefit received. We've held public meetings and sent out a survey that showed the specific annual cost to be assessed each owner. That survey showed strong support for the proposal: 69 percent of respondents said yes. But it’s important to note that most commercial property owners, whose votes weigh heavier in proportion, declined to respond, and therefore the strong support represents only 29 percent of the vote. Details are in last month’s newsletter here. November 2025 Newsletter 

That means it will be essential, if you care about the future of fire and emergency services in Kirkwood, that you vote, and that you get your friends and neighbors to vote. And that can start by attending this month’s meeting:

Tuesday, December 30, 6:00pm. 

KMPUD public service building. Meeting room is on second floor.

Or join by Zoom  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81041604183

Ballots will be mailed out mid-January via US mail to same address at which you receive your Kirkwood property tax bill.

Check out the FAQ section on the KMPUD website!  This page contains important information for customers, providing detailed responses to frequently asked (and not so frequently asked) questions. This resource encompasses various service topics, such as general inquiries, billing issues, electric, propane service, snow removal operation, solid waste management, as well as water and wastewater topics, enabling customers to easily access the information they seek.

By proactively tackling these questions, the section not only simplifies communication but also empowers customers, allowing them to make well-informed decisions regarding their utility services. In summary, the FAQs enhance the overall customer experience and promote a deeper comprehension of KMPUD's range of offerings and policies. You will find the FAQ's here.

We have received your request from the Customer Satisfaction Survey asking how to read your KMPUD Utility Statement. This guide will assist you in understanding each section of your statement. Grab your statement and follow along to gain insight into what everything signifies.

The Statement is broken into five parts: (1) Remittance, (2) Statement, (3) Summary of Charges, (4) Service Details and (5) Daily Usage.

Statement of Utility Bill:

The top portion (1) Remittance is to be separated and returned with your payment if you are paying by check.  This section includes the customer name and billing address.  Please contact the District with any changes. If requested, both the owner and the tenant may receive a copy of the Statement, however it is ultimately the owner's responsibility for payment of all utility bills.  The owner’s name will appear as the first line with tenant below.  The total Amount Due is listed. The Statement Date is the date the statements were computed. The Due Date is the date the current charges are due. The After Due date pay is the amount to be paid only if payment is made after the Due Date. Notes – will state Past Due Balance if payment is made after the due date; this section will only appear if you do not participate in ACH. The District's mailing address appears top right. Please use PO Box 247 if mailing a check through USPS.

Penalties are assessed after charges become delinquent. The amount of the penalty is a one-time 10% charge and 0.5% interest charge per month thereafter.

The (2) Statement section includes the name of the property owner, the Account Number, the Statement Date, the property Location or name, the Previous Balance from the last statement, Payments received during the billing period, the Current Charges, the Amount Due and any Other Charges if applicable.

 The (3) Summary of Charges includes a sum total of the charges by Service type: Electric, Propane, Water, Waste Water, Solid Waste, and Fire Assessment. All services include the meter ID and usage in kilowatt hours (KWH) for Electric and cubic feet (CF) for Propane, Water and Waste Water charges.  Waste Water (Sewer) charges are calculated using the metered Water Usage in (CF).  The Solid Waste Charge is a fixed amount.  The monthly Fire Assessment Charge is calculated by multiplying the square footage of your home by $0.04 and dividing by 12.

The (4) Service Details section provides additional detail for each Service provided.  Included for each: Previous Reading, Current Reading, Multiplier – used in calculating the rate (where appropriate), Usage – KWH or CF as appropriate for each Service and the number of days between meter reads, and the Charges for each Service.

Electric Service includes a Base Rate, a Meter Charge, the Usage in KWH, and the Board of Equalization Surcharge.

Propane Service includes a Base Rate, a Meter Charge, Usage displayed in Cubic Feet, Fuel Adjustment charge or credit.

Water includes a Base Rate, a Meter Charge, and Usage measured in Cubic Feet.

Waste Water includes a Base Rate and Usage displayed in Cubic Feet.

The (5) Daily Usage displays daily average usage as billed for Electricity, Propane, and Water.  If available, the previous year’s usage for the same billing month will also appear.  For Electricity, the display includes the amount of Usage in KWH along with a calculation of the Usage per day in each billing period.  For Propane and Water, the display includes the amount of Usage if Usage in Cubic Feet (CF) along with the calculated usage per day for each billing period.

This guide is also available at here, on the KMPUD Website.

Each year in California hundreds of thousands of computers, printers, televisions, and other electronics become outdated in the eyes of consumers. Rapid advances in technology and demand for new features and upgrades led to an increase of wasted electronic devices, or e-waste.

What is E-Waste?

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.

Important Reminder: Many electronic products (computers, cell phones, tablets, etc.) are used to store personal information. Before donating or recycling your equipment, remember to remove all sensitive and personal information from its memory. Note that simply using your keyboard or mouse to delete files does not necessarily completely remove the information from your device’s memory. Your local software store can provide you with the necessary drive cleaning software appropriate for your system.

Where to Recycle?
Please use the eRecycle directory to find an e-waste collector in your area. E-waste is not collected at KMPUD dumpsters. 

It is essential for our records and communication that your email address and cell phone number remain up-to-date with KMPUD. Keeping your information correct allows us to deliver important notifications, updates, and maintenance information directly to you. If you have recently changed your email address, cell phone, or are uncertain whether we have the correct one on file, we encourage you to verify it today.

Log into your KMPUD User Account to ensure your information is accurate.

To ensure that your payments, whether mailed by you or sent by your bank, arrive on time during the snow season, please make sure to mail them early.

Inclement weather can cause delays in postal services, which may resulting in late payments and possible penalties. By sending your payments ahead of time, or better yet signing up for ACH, you can avoid any disruptions caused by winter conditions and keep your accounts in good standing.

 

 

As we enjoy the holidays and the winter season, please take a moment to review some important reminders about green-waste bins and Christmas tree disposal for our community.

Summer-Only Green Waste Bins

At KMPUD, our green-waste bins are provided only during the summer months. The reason: once snow and ice cover our dumpster pad — and the surrounding ground becomes slick — those bins simply cannot be moved safely. If you have green waste (yard clippings, branches, etc.), please store these at your property or dispose of them off- site when local green-waste service resumes. Until then, do not use the winter dumpster pad or condominium dumpsters for green waste.

Christmas Trees — Not Accepted at Dumpsters

We do not accept Christmas trees for disposal at the dumpster pad or at any of the condominium dumpsters. Please do not leave trees near dumpsters. Doing so interferes with snow-removal efforts and disrupts normal solid-waste operations.

Instead:

Store your live (real) Christmas tree outside on your property — somewhere safe and out of the way — until green-waste bins return next summer.

Off-site Christmas Tree Recycling

If you don’t want to hang on to your tree all winter, you do have off-site recycling options. For example, residents near Gardnerville can take trees to the Douglas Disposal & Recycling Services Transfer Station, located at 902 Dump Road, Gardnerville, NV 89410. Douglas Disposal & Recycling Services

This facility accepts clean, natural (untreated) vegetation: trees, limbs, branches, brush, leaves. Douglas Disposal & Recycling Services

Nearby South Tahoe Recycling Center also supports broader recycling efforts, and residents can contact STR for details on tree drop-off options. 

Please remove all decorations, tinsel, lights, tree stands, and nails before drop-off.

Why This Matters — The Impact on Winter Operations

Leaving trees by dumpsters or on the dumpster pad isn’t just a rule — it’s a safety and operations issue.

Snowplows and snow-removal crews need clear access to the dumpster pad and driveway. Trees left behind can block this access and create hazards.

Decorating waste or yard waste mixed with regular trash complicates sorting and disposal.

By storing your tree safely at home or bringing it to a recycling facility, you’re helping keep our community safe, clean, and compliant with winter-time rules.

Thanks for helping us maintain safe, efficient waste and recycling services through the winter months — and for doing your part for the environment by recycling your tree the right way.

 

Electric rate study — In 2026 it will be five years since our last electric rate study, and we will perform a new one, leading to rate changes later in the year. Our January 2 board meeting, the electric rate study will be on the agenda for the first time. It’s an opportunity for members of the community to participate if you have input on the rate study.  

Committees — At this month’s meeting, the board voted for Doug Mitarotonda to continue as board president, Bob Epstein as vice president, Chris Tucher as assistant secretary and John Schroeder as treasurer. New committee assignments were made:

Finance:  John Schroeder Chair, Chris Tucher

Engineering, Operations & Planning:  Peter Dornbrook Chair, Doug Mitarotonda

Communications:  Chris Tucher Chair, Bob Epstein

IT & Cybersecurity:  Bob Epstein Chair, Peter Dornbrook

KMPUD relies on community volunteers who sit on these committees and contribute. If you have skills and interests that correspond to any of these committees, we urge you to contact us at info@kmpud.com and join. Meetings are typically once a month for an hour on Zoom. 

To stay informed, we encourage the community to watch the recent meeting at kmpud.com and read the Board Packet. Look for communications from KMPUD on next steps to address the critical issues around KVFD.

Kirkwood is your District and your input and participation are valuable. Click here to view the Community Calendar of upcoming Board and Committee meetings. We encourage your participation at our meetings. Click here to view upcoming agendas. And click here to access past Board of Directors meetings. 

Stay Up to Date with the KMPUD Newsletter

Receiving the monthly newsletter is essential to stay informed about various aspects such as events, seasonal reminders, updates from the Board of Directors, and important communication information.

Scanning this QR code will bring you directly to the Registration page.  A confirmation email will be sent to the email you registered with. Follow the directions provided.

Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District

209-258-4444 / info@kmpud.com / www.kmpud.com