(A) Termination of service. The city shall have the right to terminate utility service to any customer or refuse reconnection to any customer for any of the following reasons:
(1) Discovery by the city of material misinformation in the customer’s original application for service that may prejudice the city in continuing service to the customer;
(2) Nonpayment of any utility bill for one billing period and the total due, both current and past due, is more than $140;
(3) Deterioration of the service system to the customer’s premises to such an extent that water would be wasted or sewage leaking if service continued;
(4) Failure of the owner of the premises or user thereof to keep the lines, pipes, and other apparatus, including meter, in proper repair;
(5) Tampering with the meter or any part of the system without proper authorization;
(6) Reselling or diverting any utility service without proper approval therefor; or
(7) Vacancy of the premises.
(Prior Code, § 8.0126)
(B) Termination procedure. If the city believes there is proper cause for termination of any utility service, the following procedure shall be used:
(1) The Finance Officer or City Council shall give the customer written notice of proposed termination specifying the reason therefor, and setting the date of termination at least ten calendar days from the date of the letter. If the reason for termination is nonpayment of any utility bill, the notice shall contain the amount due the city, including charges and interest. The letter shall state acceptable corrective action such as:
(a) Payment of the bill in full;
(b) Making a partial payment of the bill and entering into a written agreement to pay the balance over a period of time agreeable to the city;
(c) Disputing the bill in writing; or
(d) Filing a written appeal prior to the termination date.
(2) If an appeal or dispute is filed, then service shall continue until the dispute or appeal is heard by the City Council.
(3) If the matter is corrected prior to the termination date, then the termination procedure shall cease, and the parties shall resume normal business-customer relations.
(4) If the matter is not corrected or an appeal or dispute is not filed prior to the termination date, service will be terminated.
(5) Municipal utility service shall be continued for a single 30-day period upon receipt of a physician’s certificate of notice from a public health or social service official that disconnection of municipal utility service will aggravate an existing medical emergency of the customer or another permanent resident of the customer’s premises.
(6) If a customer files an appeal, the City Council may continue service, terminate service, or continue service with such added stipulations as the situation may call for, including increasing the deposit amount to protect the city.
(7) Following the City Council’s decision on the appeal or dispute, written notice thereof shall be given to the customer. If the decision is to terminate or continue service with stipulations, the notice shall state clearly the decision and the date it will take effect. The effective date shall be at least seven days after the notice is given.
(8) If the original cause is not corrected by the effective date, termination or continuation with stipulations shall take place on said date, without further notice.
(9) Any customer desiring reinstatement or elimination of any restrictions or stipulations, shall make application as described in § 50.01 hereof. Before allowing reinstatement or removal of restrictions or stipulations, the city shall require the customer to make a showing that he or she can fully comply with this Title.
(10) Before any reconnection, the customer shall pay the deposit described in § 50.03 and any additional deposit required by the city to guarantee the customer’s full compliance. On reconnection the city shall be entitled to set any additional requirements in order to avoid prior termination problems.
(Prior Code, § 8.0127)