(A) Meters will be read and bills rendered 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 the meter is installed and connection made, whether used or not.
(D) Readings from different meters including meters that may be for the same or different premises, for the same or different consumer and for the same or different services, may be billed on the same invoice.
(E) Disconnection.
(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;
(b) That if any delinquent bill is not paid by the date of the following bill, service will be disconnected for nonpayment on or about the sixth day after the due date. The proceeding bill containing the past due balance from the prior month will serve as the second notice; 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 established by the schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which is available at the office of the Town Clerk.
(F) Failure to receive bills or notices shall not prevent such bills from becoming delinquent or relieve the consumer from payment.
(G) Payments will be due on the last day of the month. If the last day of the month falls on a weekend, payment will be due the following Monday. Payments received after the due date will be charged a late fee of 10% of the total bill.
('85 Code, § 10-1.10) (Ord. 29, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 15-82, passed - - ; Am. Ord. 08-03, passed 4-22-08; Am. Ord. 08-07, passed 6-24-08)