(A) In any case where charges for municipal utility services have not been paid within 30 days after the date due, and where satisfactory payment arrangements have not been made, water and other municipal utility services to the premises may be discontinued in accordance with the provisions of divisions (B) and (C) below. Discontinuance of service for any other reason shall be made in accordance with requirements set forth in other parts of this code pertaining to discontinuance of service for those reasons. When service has been discontinued, service shall not be restored until all delinquent charges, including reconnection charges are paid, or arrangements satisfactory to the Clerk/Treasurer, are made for their payment.
(B) The procedure set forth in this section shall apply to discontinuance of service for nonpayment of amounts owed. This shall also be subject to such additional requirements, if any, as are provided by law or by regulation.
(C) The Clerk/Treasurer shall cause written notice of intention to discontinue service for non-payments of amounts owed to be served upon the customer. Mailed notice shall also be given to the owner, if the owner is not the customer served. The notice shall state that if payment is not received on or before a date stated in the notice, services specified in the notice will be discontinued. The date shall be not less than three days after the date upon which the notice is given. The notice shall also state that the person may, before that date, file with the Clerk/Treasurer a demand for hearing on the matter, in which case service shall not be discontinued, pending decision on the issue at the hearing. If a timely demand is made for a hearing, a hearing, at which the applicant for hearing shall be heard, shall be held by the City Council not sooner than three days after the date upon which the request is received by the Clerk/Treasurer. If, as a result of the hearing, the City Council finds that there is an unpaid charge and that there is no legal reason why service should not be discontinued, the City Council may order that service be immediately discontinued.
(D) Pursuant to M.S. § 216B.097, as it may be amended from time to time, no service of a residential customer shall be disconnected if the disconnection affects the primary heat source for the residential unit when the disconnection would occur during the period between October 15 and April 15, the customer has declared inability to pay on forms provided by the city, the household income of the customer is less than 185% of the federal poverty level as documented by the customer to the city, and the customer’s account is current for the billing period immediately prior to October 15 or the customer has entered into a payment schedule and is reasonably current with payments under the schedule. The Clerk/Treasurer shall, between August 15 and October 15 of each year, notify all residential customers of these provisions.
(Prior Code, § 50.16)