A. Customer Requested Closure:
1. To close an account, a customer must complete a request to discontinue utility services on a form provided by the city. The account will remain in the customer's name until the city has received the completed form.
2. The customer will continue to receive a bill for account charges until the account is paid for in full or turned over to a collection agency.
3. Accounts closed due to non-use, delinquency, or at the request of the customer, may require the service to be updated to any new standards the city has adopted since the account originated.
B. Closure By Non-Use:
1. When an account has been inactive for thirty (30) days, the account will be closed and any past due balances sent to collection, pursuant to standards adopted by resolution.
2. Reconnection of an account closed due to non-use will require a new application and payment of all associated fees and deposits, including any past fees not collected or due to the city.
C. Delinquent Accounts:
1. Account or balances over an amount set by Councils (see official fee schedule) and past due by thirty (30) days, shall be considered a delinquent account.
2. If an account is not brought current or remains delinquent over the thirty (30) day time frame provided in this chapter, and a payment arrangement has not been approved by the city, then the city shall prepare a door-hanger, for placement on the physical property notifying the property that the utility account that is delinquent and will be shut off on a date specified on the door hanger.
3. The door hanger shall note the time and place where payment shall be made before disconnecting of the property is done.
4. The city will charge a "door hanger fee," in accordance with the adopted fee schedule, each time city employee is required physically notice the property is delinquent.
5. An account that is not brought current shall be disconnected in accordance with subsection E of this section.
D. Payment Arrangements:
1. A customer may request a payment arrangement for delinquent accounts, but first must pay a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the past due amount.
2. Any remaining balance of the past due amount will be due within thirty (30) days of the payment arrangement being made.
a. No new payment arrangements will be allowed if the previous payment arrangement was not paid or completed in the time frame accepted by the city.
b. If the payment arrangement is not completed by the account holder, then a door hanger is then placed on the address of the delinquent account.
c. Any aggrieved account holder may appeal the staffs decision in accordance with section 10-1-20
of this chapter.
E. Disconnections And Reconnections:
1. The city may immediately and without notice disconnect services for the following reasons:
a. Broken payment arrangements
b. Diversion or unauthorized use of city utility services.
c. Discovery of a condition determined by the City to be hazardous.
d. Violation of and/or noncompliance with any applicable Federal, State or other local laws, regulations and codes.
e. Discovery of meter tampering.
f. Other circumstances where public health and/or safety is at risk.
2. Disconnections for routine maintenance during normal working hours by the request of the customer can be made by the account holder or customer at no cost to the customer, provided the disconnect can be completed within two (2) working hours in a single business day and can be accommodated within ten (10) working days of the request.
3. Disconnection for routine maintenance outside of normal business hours or have to be accommodated within a ten (10) working daytime frame, or that take longer than two (2) working hours in a business day, will be charged actual costs of labor expended for such work to be completed.
4. Delinquent accounts shall be disconnected after failure to make an account current in payment after notice is provided by the city.
5. City staff shall cause the delinquent account to be shut off or the meter removed for accounts that remain delinquent. The city may at any time remove the meter from the property if the account is not brought current.
6. A customer can delay termination of service for an additional thirty (30) days from the scheduled disconnect date by obtaining a certificate from a doctor or public health official stating that a medical emergency would exist of a medical condition would be aggravated if the service is turned off. The certificate must be signed by the person diagnosing the medical conditions and must name the person affected.
7. Reconnection of a property after being disconnected for non-payment shall not be re-energized or reconnected until the service is brought up to current Idaho State or National Code requirements, or any city standards.
8. All charges, fines or penalties shall be paid in full before reconnection or account activity is reinstated. (Ord. 608, 6-6-2023)