The information required to be disclosed in subsection 5-16-010(a)(2) may be obtained by the building or dwelling unit owner, or agent thereof, from an online website. Alternatively, the information shall be provided, at no direct cost to the requestor or intended recipient, by the utility company or companies that supply to the dwelling unit upon the written request of the building or dwelling unit owner or his agent. Every such written request shall contain an affirmative statement that the person or entity making the request possesses title or, in the case of trust, is the owner of the power of direction to the property in which the dwelling unit is located or is the agent of such person or entity. The utility company receiving such written request shall be entitled to rely on the affirmative representation of such owner or agent and shall not be obligated to do anything further to ascertain or confirm the identity of the owner and/or agent of the property.
The utility company shall devise forms to be used for requesting and providing this information. The city shall undertake a program to educate the public and shall make request forms available throughout the city. Under no circumstances shall the information provided to building or dwelling unit owners, tenants or prospective tenants under this process disclose payment records of or the name to whom the account was formerly billed. The utility company shall provide such information within two weeks of its receipt of a properly executed written request.
Once received by the owner or his agent, the information obtained from an online website or provided by the utility shall be considered valid for the disclosure purposes of this chapter for six months from the date that it was obtained or provided.
The information or estimate disclosed pursuant to subsection 5-16-010(a)(2), subsection 5-16-050(a), or subsection 5-16-050(b) shall not be construed as an offer or guarantee by the utility company to provide energy for the cost reported in the information or estimate, and the utility company shall not be liable for any difference between the reported cost and the actual cost incurred by the tenant or owner to whom the information or estimate is disclosed. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as relieving any person of the responsibility of paying the amounts billed them for utility service by a utility company.
(Prior code § 193.2-3; Added Coun. J. 10-15-87, p. 5196; Amend Coun. J. 4-10-13, p. 51233, § 1)