(a) All utility service accounts that have not been paid-in-full rendering same in delinquency status and have failed to establish written payment arrangements will be unanimously subjected to service termination/shut off proceedings without option for appeal.
(b) Shut off/service termination shall occur on the twenty-sixth calendar day of the billing month. If the twenty-sixth day is a legal holiday or weekend day, the shut-off day shall occur on the next regular work day immediately following the final date for accepting delinquency payments.
(c) All services that are delinquent by the shut-off date will be terminated unless written payment arrangements have been made in accordance with the Payment Arrangement Policy in Section 939.08.
(d) Shut off/service disconnection shall result in a fifty dollar ($50.00) on/off service charge levied on all accounts to which this applies. This penalty cannot be appealed or abated under any circumstances.
(e) The fifty dollar ($50.00) on/off charge only accounts for the initial service disconnection costs associated with the utility shut-off and service reconnection during regular business hours.
(f) Any request for service reconnection after the close of regular business hours of the utility service crew, will be assessed the fifty dollar ($50.00) on/off fee and an additional after hours reconnection surcharge amounting to the total overtime cost of the employee(s) called out to reestablish utility service. After hours reconnection is not guaranteed and is further subject to the availability of appropriate utility personnel.
(g) All amounts that are delinquent as well as all on/off and reconnection surcharge fees must be pain in full by cash, money order, or certified check only, before utility service will be reconnected.
(h) Failure to pay amounts due by tenants will not be levied against property owners unless the property owner provides written acceptance of the liability for said utility service charges.
(i) The City reserves the right to refuse to provide or reestablish utility service for individuals who exhibit a history of chronic delinquency with the City. Chronic delinquency is having had service terminated more than two times in a calendar year; and/or placement of account on delinquency status for three or more consecutive months; and/or having written two or more nonsufficient fund checks for delinquent utility services in the past twelve months.
(j) The City reserves the right to terminate utility service, when, in the City’s opinion, there is reasonable cause to believe that the customer is receiving utility service without paying therefore, or the meter(s), wires, or other connecting apparatus have in any manner been tampered with, damaged, or suspected of damage, in such ways as to prevent the meter(s) from recording the amount of utility service consumed by the customer.
(k) The City reserves the right to terminate utility service, when, in the City’s opinion, the condition of the customer’s wiring, plumbing, equipment, appliance, or other appurtenance is either unsafe or unsuitable for receiving utility service, or when the customer’s use of a utility service or equipment interferes with or may be detrimental to the supply of utility service by the City to any of its other customers.
(l) The City reserves the right to terminate utility service, when, in the City’s opinion, utility service is being provided over a line which is not owned by the City or leased by the City and such line is either not in a safe and suitable condition or is inadequate to receive said utility service.
(m) The City reserves the right to terminate utility service, when, in the City’s opinion, a customer has denied a City representative access to the City’s water or electric meter and all associated wiring and other apparatus associated thereto installed on the customer’s property.
(n) The City reserves the right to terminate utility service, when, in the City’s opinion, it is necessary in order to prevent theft and/or fraud upon the City.
(o) The City cannot be held liable for any and all damages resulting from the disconnection of utility service. (Ord. 11-03. Passed 6-2-03.)