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CUSTOMER BILLING
(A) There are some circumstances in which village customers might be billed several months after the date of service for services or commodities provided by the utility. Such billings may cover multiple months of service. These circumstances can include, but are not limited to, the village’s discovery that:
(1) A slow-running meter has been providing an inaccurate measure of customer consumption;
(2) A meter has stopped, resulting in no registered usage;
(3) A customer who signed up for and received service was inadvertently omitted from the monthly billing system; and
(4) Meter tampering has resulted in the utility's inability to properly bill for service in a timely manner.
(B) Except where tampering has occurred, if the village has failed to bill for services or commodities it has provided, the back billing will be limited to 12 months for residential service and 24 months for nonresidential service.
(C) Except in circumstances involving meter tampering, any customer receiving a multi-month bill for previously unbilled utility services will be eligible to enter into a Promissory Payment Arrangement or Extended Payment Plan with the village.
(D) If the village discovers that there has been tampering with any of its equipment and the customer has enjoyed the benefits of such tampering, the utility is not restricted to the above time limitations on unbilled services. The customer will be responsible for all service usage during the period that tampering occurred, including estimated consumption where unmetered usage occurred. The village may bill a customer for diverted service not used by that customer if that customer had knowledge of or consented to the diversion.
(E) If tampering (or any malicious act on the part of the customer) results in damage to village equipment, the customer will also be responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing that equipment. Service will be interrupted until all such charges are paid in full.
(Ord. 16-15, passed 4-26-16)
(A) The village shall credit the customer's account for any amount overcharged on a bill rendered by the utility within the period specified below if it is discovered, following payment, that the customer was overcharged because the village:
(1) Used the incorrect customer service rate; or
(2) Inaccurately measured the quantity or volume of service provided.
(B)
For residential customers, credits will be limited to the 24-month period immediately preceding discovery that an overcharge is occurring. Nonresidential customers are limited to the preceding 24-month period. Any reimbursement beyond 24 months may be petitioned to and granted by the Village Board of Trustees if extenuating circumstances can be shown as determined by the Village Board and sufficient records are produced to evidence the overpayment.
(C) The village will back bill a customer for any amount undercharged on a bill rendered by the utility if it is discovered, following payment, that the customer was undercharged. For residential customers, back billing of the charges will be limited to the 24-month period immediately preceding discovery that an undercharge is occurring. Nonresidential customers are limited to the preceding 24-month period.
(Ord. 16-15, passed 4-26-16; Am. Ord. 18-47, passed 8-28-18)
(A) The village may allow customers subject to disconnection for previously billed past due amounts for their current active utility service to enter into a Promissory Payment Arrangement. Customers who have twice failed to make payment under such a plan during the preceding 12 months, as well as those who have been involved in meter tampering incidents, will not be permitted to enter into a Payment Arrangement.
(B) Under the terms of the Promissory Payment Arrangement:
(1) A customer with a past due amount must make a promissory payment arrangement to pay the past due balance by the 15th of the month following the disconnect date. The promissory arrangement will be entered into the comments section of the customer's account in the Utility Billing Software.
(2) If a customer who enters into a Payment Arrangement makes payment late or defaults in any way on the agreement, service may be interrupted and will not be reinstated until all past due amounts, plus the corresponding reconnect fee(s), are paid in full.
(3) An additional extension of time may be granted for a customer whose payment arrangement is dependent upon the receipt of support from a local community assistance organization. The extension will be subject to the receipt of a confirmation from the organization that a payment will be issued on behalf of the customer.
(4) A payment plan may not be established after utility service has been disconnected.
(Ord. 16-15, passed 4-26-16)
(A) The village offers a budget billing program to residential customers that have a 12 month history at their current location.
(B) This plan provides for payments in equal installments.
(C) To qualify for the Budget Billing Program, the customer must be a customer in good standing with no more than two late payment penalties within the last 12 months. Budget Billing accounts must have a zero balance before their first Budget Billing statement,
(D) The village shall review the residential customer's monthly level payment no less than every six months. However, the level payment may be adjusted more frequently if the customer's consumption indicates a need for such adjustment.
(E) The monthly level payment must be made each month in full by the due date. Any customer that has two delinquent payments is not eligible for the Budget Billing Program for a minimum period of 12 months and will be automatically removed from the Budget Billing Program. Any payment less than the budget amount will be subject to disconnection. Budget Billing accounts are not eligible for time extensions or payment arrangements.
(F) Any customer who voluntarily withdraws from or defaults on any conditions of the Budget Billing Program will be ineligible to enter into another Budget Billing Program for one year from the date of withdrawal or default. Any past due balance at the time of the withdrawal or default must be paid in full.
(Ord. 16-15, passed 4-26-16)
(A) Mail. Customers can make their bill payments by U.S. mail, using the return envelope provided with their bill. (If a preprinted return envelope is not available, mail the payment to: Village of Chatham, 116 E. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629.) Mail payments may be made using a check (checks will be processed using electronic check conversion) or money order.
(B) In-Person. In-person payments can be made at the Village of Chatham drive-up window (on the east side of the Utility Office located at 116 E. Mulberry, Chatham, IL) or the walk-up cashier's window in the Utility Office's lobby on the north side of the building. Cash, checks (checks will be processed using electronic check conversion), money orders, most debit and credit cards are accepted.
(C) Online. Bill payments also can be made online at (www.chathamil.net) using a credit card or debit card. Customers can also elect online to sign up for monthly recurring payments.
(D) Direct Debit. The village offers bill payment by direct debit to the customer's checking or savings account. Any customer who provides written authorization and a voided blank check or savings account deposit form may have his or her monthly bill or level payment amount submitted by the Village of Chatham directly to his or her financial institution.
(E) 24-hour Payment Drop-Off Box. The village has a 24-hour payment drop-off box located in drive-through on the east side of the Utility office located at 116 E. Mulberry St., Chatham, IL 62629. When using the drop-off box, be sure to use the payment-return envelope provided with your bill and make your payment using only a check or money order. Do not use cash.
(Ord. 16-15, passed 4-26-16)
COMBINED WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM
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