(A) Utility meter reading. Utility meters shall be read on the twenty-second day of the month or, if not a work day, on Chandler’s first working day following the twenty-second day of each calendar month.
(B) Utility service billing. Utility service bills shall be mailed to utility customers no later than the third day of the following month.
(C) Utility service bill payment due date. Payment for Chandler utility services shall be due and paid, without penalty, on or before the twentieth calendar day of the month following the billing thereof. Provided however, should the twentieth calendar day fall on a Saturday, Sunday, Chandler recognized holiday, or any other day when the Chandler utilities billing office is closed, then the payment shall be due on Chandler’s first working day thereafter.
(D) Utility service billing penalty. Penalties applicable to late payment of Chandler utilities billings shall be applied on the day following the “utility service bill payment due date” as herein above established.
(E) Utility service billing nonpayment cutoff date. The utility services for Chandler utility customers whose utility service bill remains unpaid, in an amount in excess of $20, on or after the last working day of the Chandler utilities billing office of the month following the billing thereof, shall be discontinued as promptly as Chandler utilities work schedules shall allow.
(F) Utility security deposits. Commencing with the effective date hereof, new customers of Chandler utilities shall post security deposits to ensure bill payment as follows:
(1) Water utility.
(a) Service to property owner-occupied customers: $40;
(b) Service to property nonowner-occupied customers: $80.
(2) Wastewater utility.
(a) Service to property owner-occupied customers: $75;
(b) Service to property nonowner-occupied customers: $100.
(G) Rental policy. Customers who are requesting utility service and are renting must provide a copy of the lease at time of connection. Owners of rental property are responsible for any outstanding sewer and storm water charges; service will not be connected for tenant until charges are paid.
(H) Utility service vacation. Customers of Chandler utilities may arrange for service to be placed on “vacation status” for a period not to exceed 6 continuous months. During this period, utility service shall be turned off by Chandler utilities and customers shall be billed the meter turn-off charge and the service billing at the Chandler utilities minimum billing rate. At the conclusion of the customer-selected vacation status, the customer’s service shall be reactivated and the customer charged the meter turn-on charge. If reactivation is after the 6-month period, in addition to the normal turn-on charge, the customer shall be billed the actual cost of reactivation in accordance with Chandler utilities’ customary service billing rates.
(I) Irrigation meters utility service vacation. Irrigation meter customers of Chandler utilities may arrange for service to be placed on “vacation status” for a period not to exceed 6 continuous months. During this period, utility service shall be turned off by Chandler utilities and customers shall be billed the meter turn-off charge, but shall not be billed at the Chandler utilities minimum billing rate. At the conclusion of the customer-selected vacation status, the customer’s service shall be reactivated and the customer charged the meter turn-on charge. If reactivation is after the 6-month period, in addition to the normal turn-on charge, the customer shall be billed the actual cost of reactivation in accordance with Chandler utilities’ customary service billing rates.
(J) Prepayment of utility bills. Customers of Chandler utilities may pre-pay utility bills as a matter of convenience if so desired.
(K) Abandonment of service. All utility services remaining inactive for at least 12 months shall be considered abandoned.
(L) Storm water utility charges. Nothing in this section shall affect the rate and due date of storm water utility charges, which shall continue to be billed and retain the same rate notwithstanding any status of meter service. Due dates for storm water utility charges shall be the same as the due dates for utility services.
(M) Rules for obtaining a billing adjustment.
(1) Only sewer adjustments will be given. If the water passes through the meter, it becomes the responsibility of the homeowner and water bills will not be adjusted.
(2) Sewer adjustments are only given if the excess water does not have to be treated.
(3) Pool and lawn watering adjustments will not be given under any circumstances.
(4) Sewer adjustments will not be given below the average usage.
(5) Application for adjustments must be received within 3 months of the occurrence.
(6) Evidence that a leak has occurred must be provided. This can come in the form of a plumber’s bill or a receipt for the plumbing supplies from the hardware store. This necessitates that requests are in person or by mail with the accompanying evidence.
(N) Summer Sewer Program policy. The Summer Sewer Program is a courtesy program that may or may not be initiated by the Chandler Town Council each year. This program is designed to give allowances to home owners for car washing, gardening, lawn watering, pool filling, and the like. During the program, the sewer portion of the bill will be based on a computer-calculated 12-month average of the preceding year. This will be based on the reading in September, billed July, August, September and October.
(O) Disconnect policy change. A disconnect notice, including information as to the procedure for requesting a public hearing before disconnection, will be included on the monthly bill for all customers. Disconnect avoidance payments must be made by the twenty-eighth day of the month for which the bill is due. If disconnection occurs, a customer’s bill must be brought completely current, including the $40 service charge, before service will be reactivated.
(P) Utility access to meters and meter pits.
(1) Chandler utilities shall by its inspectors, agents, or workmen, have the right of free access, at all reasonable hours, to utility meters and meter pits for:
(a) Reading;
(b) Inspection;
(c) Removal for testing; or
(d) To turn the water on or off.
(2) If Chandler utilities shall be denied such free access to the meters or meter pits, Chandler utilities may, after five days written notice to the applicable customer of Chandler utilities, abate and remove any obstruction nuisance and prepare a statement of costs incurred in such abatement or removal thereof. Such notice period shall not apply in situations of emergencies. Should the town abate or remove an obstruction pursuant to this section, the town will issue a bill to the customer outlining the administrative and removal costs of the abatement. In addition to any other remedies, the costs described in this section shall be a debt which may be collected by the town in an appropriate civil action.
(Res. 2011-3, passed 12-5-2011; Am. Res. 2012-9, passed 7-2-2012; Am. Res. 2014-38, passed 11-17-2014; Am. Ord. 2016-07, passed 8-15-2016)