(A) Billing periods. Bills ordinarily will be rendered regularly at monthly intervals, but may be rendered more frequently at the Department's option. Non-receipt of bills by the customer shall not release or diminish the obligation of the customer with respect to payment thereof.
(B) Minimums. When a customer receives service for less than 30 days during the billing period, the applicable monthly minimum shall apply.
(C) Payment of bills. All charges due from the customer become delinquent if not paid on or before the due date set forth on the bill. Service may be thereafter disconnected 10 days after written notice has been mailed to the customer or delivered to the service address. When so disconnected, service will not be restored until all sums due, including but not limited to any expense of disconnecting and reconnecting the service, are paid. Upon becoming delinquent, a late penalty equal to 5% of all charges not paid on the due date of the bill in question. The protest shall be referred to the Department Manager for resolution. Upon their written determination of the amount due, the customer may appeal to the Board. In the absence of such an appeal, the determination of the Department Manager shall be final. If protest is not made as herein provided, no adjustment will be made.
(D) Charge for restoring service. If service to the customer is discontinued for non-payment of bill, or other violation of the service agreement, before service is reestablished, the customer shall pay the Department a reconnect fee as per tariff, and pay the entire balance of the customer's pre-existing bill.
(E) Tax adjustment clause. In the event any town, municipality or other governmental body shall impose a gross revenue, occupation or franchise tax upon the Department for gas supplied, then the amount of such tax shall be billed to and paid by the customers receiving the gas from the Department within the town, municipality or governmental body imposing said tax.
(F) Deposits; when required. The Department, at the time application for gas service is made or at any time thereafter, may require a cash deposit or guarantee satisfactory to the Department to secure the payment of bills as they become due. The Department may hold such deposit or guarantee in its entirety until final settlement of the customer's account. Reasons for deposits may include, but are not limited to, poor payment history and indeterminate or temporary services. The amount of such deposit may be equivalent to the estimated cost of service for 60 days, as estimated by the Department.
(G) Third party guarantees. Third party guarantees in lieu of a deposit shall be permitted upon demonstration of a guarantor's satisfactory credit.
(H) Letter of credit. In lieu of a deposit, the Department may accept a letter of satisfactory credit from the last gas utility from which the new customer has taken service.
(I) Refunds. Deposits shall be refunded upon the customer's request after a satisfactory payment history of 24 months. Deposits shall be credited to the customer's bills for gas service. If the customer is terminating service and that customer's deposit balance remains greater than the customer's last bill, the remaining balance, after crediting the bill, shall be refunded directly to the customer.
(Ord. 2009-02, passed 4-13-2009)