(A) Meters will be read and bills rendered as follows: monthly, but the town reserves the right to vary the dates or length of period covered, temporarily or permanently if necessary or desirable.
(B) Bills for water will be figured in accordance with the town’s published rate schedule then in effect and will be based on the amount consumed for the period covered by the meter readings.
(C) Charge for service commences when meter is installed and connection made, whether used or not. If meter is locked down by town employees per the request of the customer, a $10 fee will be charged to the customer’s account, but monthly billing without consumption will be waived until water is restored.
(D) Accounts two months delinquent will be subject to immediate termination of service if not paid in full by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th of the month, in accordance with division (H) of this section. A $25 reconnect fee will be charged to restore service. Service will be restored during working hours only.
(E) In the event that a town employee finds evidence of a meter that has been tampered with, or finds that the lock has been cut, to restore the service a $200 fine will be charged in addition to the reconnect fee, and payment of account balance in full will be required before service will be restored.
(F) Failure to receive bill does not relinquish responsibility for payment, nor waive reconnect fees. The town accepts payments on-line at www.paybill.com/townofclyde, or by phone at 1-866-315-6146.
(G) Failure to receive bills or notices shall not prevent the bills from becoming delinquent nor relieve the consumer from payment.
(H) Disconnection for late payment.
(1) It is the policy of the town to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The town's form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(a) That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill; and
(b) That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(c) That any customer disputing the correctness of his bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his choosing and may present orally or in writing his complaint and contentions to the town official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer's service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer's complaint.
(2) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
(3) When it becomes necessary for the town to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid, along with a turn-on charge in an amount determined from time to time by the Board of Aldermen.
(Prior Code, Ch. E, Art. II, § 9)