(a) All bills for sewer service shall state whether the charge is based upon quantities of water consumed at the premises, flat rate or other charge. Bills shall be rendered periodically, and if based upon metered water consumption they shall show the readings of the water meter at the beginning and end of the period for which the bill is rendered, the date of the water meter readings, the number of cubic feet or gallons of water supplied, and the authorized rate. If the utility must, for any reason, render an estimated bill, the bill shall be clearly marked as an estimated bill. All bills shall state “This utility is regulated by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia” and “Rates available upon request.”
(b) First and last bills, monthly or quarterly, for sewer service rendered for periods of five (5) days more or five (5) days less than the normal billing period, will be computed in accordance with the rate applicable to that service, by the amount of sewer blocks, and the minimum charge as set forth in that rate will be prorated on the basis of the number of days in the period in question, to the total number of days in the normal period.
(c) Utilities desiring to adopt mechanical billing of such nature as to render compliance with all the terms of Rule 4.3.b., impractical, may make application to the Commission for relief from part of these terms. After consideration of the reasons given when asking for relief, the Commission may allow the omission of part of these requirements.
(d) On all bills which include charges for items other than authorized sewer charges, the other factors used in computing the bill shall be clearly stated so that the amount may be readily verified from the information appearing upon the bill.
(e) Each bill shall bear on its face the latest pay date and the date it shall be a delinquent bill if not paid. On all current usage billings not paid in full by the latest pay date, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
(f) When a utility receives a customer payment at a time when both a delinquent bill and a current bill are outstanding, the utility will apply the payment first to the current bill, and apply any leftover amounts to the delinquency. Provided, that this rule shall not apply to payments from customers whose delinquencies have been addressed in a deferred payment agreement. If a termination notice has been issued then the payment should first be applied to the delinquent amount that is the subject of the termination notice. (Passed 3-5-07.)