(A) Billing. Electric service bills, including budget billing, are issued each month as net bills. The net amount, as indicated on the bill, is due and payable upon receipt. If payment of the net amount is not received by Avilla or a duly authorized collection agent within 17 days after the bill is mailed to customer, the bill is delinquent. The net amount plus the late payment charge, as described in Exhibit I, then becomes due. If the bill remains unpaid at the next billing date, a bill with a disconnect notice will be mailed to customer, requiring payment of the delinquent amount within 14 days of the mailing date. If such payment is not received by the expiration of such 14-day period, service is thereafter subject to disconnection. When the due date falls on Saturday, Sunday or any legal holiday, the first business day thereafter shall be the due date.
(B) Payment. All bill payments must be received in Avilla’s office, or by a collection agent authorized by Avilla, on or before the stated due dates to avoid late payment charges and disconnection of service. Failure to receive a bill shall not entitle customer to the net bill if he fails to make payment within the initial 17-day period, nor shall it affect the right of Avilla to discontinue service as provided above. Partial payments and payments on bills with disconnect notices will not be accepted by banks authorized as collection agents.
(C) Estimated bills.
(1) An estimated bill may be issued when an actual meter reading cannot be obtained for any reasons permitted under Commission Rule 13(1). Any difference between the estimated bill and customer’s actual usage will be adjusted in accordance with the next meter reading.
(2) If a meter is tampered with or found not to register accurately for any period, Avilla shall estimate the charges for service used by averaging the amounts registered on the meter over similar periods, preceding or subsequent thereto, or over corresponding periods in previous years.
(D) Budget billing. (not available)
(E) With regard to leased properties, electric bills shall be billed to the tenant(s) occupying the property served, unless otherwise requested in writing by the owners, but the billing shall in no way relieve the owner from liability in the event payment is not made as herein required. The owner of the property served, which are occupied by tenant(s), shall have the right to examine the collection records of the town for purposes of determining whether the rates and charges have been paid by the tenant(s), provided the examination shall be made in the office in which the records are kept and during the hours that the office is open for business.
(Ord. 1406-6-02, passed 6-18-2002; Am. Ord. 1528-2-13, passed 2-20-2013)