(A) Meter readings. Meters will be read and customers billed in arrears on the basis of the meter reading to the last 1,000 gallons. The Water Department will keep an accurate account on its books of all reading of meters, and the accounts so kept shall be offered at all times, places, and courts as prima facie evidence of the use of water service by the customer.
(B) Rendering of bills.
(1) Billing period. All meters shall be read and bills rendered therefor monthly.
(2) Bills for other than normal billing period. Opening or closing bills, or bills that, for any other reason cover a period containing 10% more days or 10% less days than in the normal billing period shall be pro-rated.
(3) Bills for more than one meter. All meters supplying a customer’s premises shall be billed separately, except that where the Water Department has for operating purposes installed two or more meters in place of one, the reading may be combined for billing.
(C) Disputed bills. When a customer disputes the correctness of any bill, he or she shall submit a written request for a hearing by the City Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting, and deposit the amount of the disputed bill within ten days of receipt of the disputed bill, pending final settlement of the bill or bills. A determination of the City Council after a hearing on a disputed bill shall be final. Any subsequent bills shall be paid or placed on deposit in a similar manner until the dispute is heard by the Council. The customer’s service shall not be disconnected while the dispute is pending, and for ten days after a decision by the Council is made. Failure of the customer to make such a written request and deposit within ten days shall warrant discontinuance of service as provided under division (F) below, and the imposition of any other remedies available under § 50.27(B).
(D) Failure to read meters. In the event that it shall be impossible or impractical to read a meter on the regular date, the water consumption shall be pro-rated on the basis of 30 days per month, and the total water consumption for billing purposes for that period shall be estimated.
(E) Payment of bills. Each bill rendered shall contain the final date on which payment is due. If the bill is not paid by that date, the account shall be considered delinquent, unless other arrangements have been made with the Water Department, in writing, that specify another due date.
(F) Delinquent accounts.
(1) Delinquent notice. A reminder of account delinquency may be sent, at the discretion of the City Recorder/Administrator, to each delinquent account on or about ten days after the account becomes delinquent.
(2) Turn-off notice. On or about 15 days after an account becomes delinquent, a turn-off notice may be sent to the customer. The notice shall state a date on which water will be turned off if the delinquent account is not paid in full prior thereto.
(3) Service turn-off. On the turn-off date, the meter reader or other agent of the city shall deliver a written notice to the customer stating that the water service is being turned off until all delinquent amounts have been paid. The meter reader or other agent of the city shall immediately thereafter turn off the service. A delivery to the premises served by the meter shall be considered a delivery to the customer.
(4) Service charge. In all instances where water has been turned off because of delinquent accounts, a service charge for the reconnection of services and replacement of cash deposit shall be made as established by resolution of the Council. Effective March 1, 2000, water service shall be reconnected only upon application and replacement of cash deposit by the property owner(s) of record, if the customer account was held in a name other than the owner(s) of record when service was turned off.
(G) Installment payments of delinquent accounts. In cases of extreme hardship, the City Recorder/Administrator shall have the discretion of renewing service to a delinquent account upon receipt of a satisfactory installment payment agreement for the overdue amount, provided that new billings remain current.
(Prior Code, § 51.11) (Ord. 98-471, passed 5-4-1998; Ord. 477, passed 1-31-2000)