A. Residence Water Meters: Residence water meters shall be read as follows:
1. Monthly for the months of April through October;
2. In March only for the months of November through March.
B. Commercial Water Meters: Commercial water meters shall be read monthly.
C. Issuance Of Statements:
1. Commercial: Water and power meter statements shall be mailed monthly on all commercial meters and on residence meters.
2. Residences; March Reading: A water meter reading statement shall be mailed on the March reading of residence meters if the amount of the consumption exceeds the minimum. Overages occurring due November through March will appear on April's bill. (1983 Code § 13.04.100; amd. 2003 Code)
D. Commencement Of Charges: Charge for service commences when meter is installed and connection made whether used or not.
E. Combination Of Meter Readings: Meter readings will not be combined for billings whether said meters are for the same or different premises, or for the same or different consumers or for the same or different services, unless special circumstances and arrangements are made for such combinations.
F. Payment Of Bills; Delinquency:
1. Water, power and sewer bills are due and payable on or before the twentieth day of the next succeeding month. All statements shall become delinquent on the last day of said month. It shall be presumed that all statements are received in due course by mail.
2. Failure to receive statements shall not relieve the consumer from liability for payments.
3. If the statement is not paid when due, a request must be made to the public utility for credit extension to prevent a cutoff.
G. Claims For Billing Adjustment; Testing Meter:
1. If the consumer believes the statement to be erroneous, the consumer shall present his claim in person at the office of the utility for adjustment before the statement becomes delinquent.
2. If the claim of adjustment is made after the statement has become delinquent, such claim shall not prevent discontinuance of service as heretofore provided. The consumer, however, may pay such statement under protest without prejudice to his claim. (1983 Code § 13.04.100)
3. Upon the request of the consumer, a special meter reading will be made for a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00). If such reading discloses that the meter was over read, no such charge will be made. (1983 Code § 13.04.100; amd. 2003 Code)
4. Meters will be tested upon the request of the consumer and payment to the utility of the cost to make the test; provided, however, if the meter is found to over register beyond three percent (3%) of the correct volume, no charge will be made.
H. Meter Failure: If the seal of a meter is broken or if the meter fails to register correctly, the consumer will pay a reasonable amount estimated from the previous record and/or other proper data. (1983 Code § 13.04.100)