(A) Involuntary disconnections with prior notice. Service may be disconnected to any customer with a bill that is not paid prior to the fifth of the month following the month in which the bill was issued.
(1) Meter disconnections.
(a) The utility may disconnect services between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise authorized by applicable law.
(b) The utility will not disconnect utility services after noon on a day that is preceded by a holiday or day that the Utility Office is not open.
(c) The utility shall give notice of the utility bill in the follow manner.
1. Mail notice to customer's address of record with the utility on the first day of the month.
2. Personal delivery to the person at the address of record or other person at least 18 years of age located at the address of record.
3. A customer's service will be disconnected if payment is late due to mail delivery or checks lost in the mail.
4. Failure to receive a bill shall not excuse a customer from payment of bill after the designated date for disconnection has passed.
5. The utility is not responsible for damage or loss resulting from disconnection of services.
6. The utility will provide telephone information of the Utility Office, address, and hours of regular operation.
7. Date of the disconnection of services for nonpayment will be the fifth day of the preceding month after the bill is issued the first time.
8. Detail of services rendered sufficient to explain the bill.
9. On a date not later than the fifth of the month, unless it falls on a holiday or weekend, then on a day after the fifth of the month, services will be disconnected for delinquent payment.
10. Customers must pay prior to the date of disconnection to ensure uninterrupted services.
(d) Utility employees outside of the Utility Office will not accept payments to stop the disconnection of services.
(e) After performing the disconnection, the utility employee will leave a notice of the disconnection, either with a person present at the home or business, or posted in a conspicuous manner at the place where the customer receives utilities, stating the address and telephone number of the Utility Office.
(f) The utility shall charge a reconnection fee in an amount established by ordinance. There will be no reconnections on Saturday or Sunday without the express written approval of the Utility General Manager.
(2) Disconnection delayed; medical emergency.
(a) A utility shall postpone the disconnection of service for ten days, if, prior to the disconnect date, the customer provides the utility with a medical statement from a licensed physician or public health official, which states that disconnection would be a serious and immediate threat to the health or safety of a designated person in the household of the customer.
(b) After the expiration of the ten-day period, the utility shall disconnect services on the next business day or sooner if the reason for the disconnection has not been cured within the ten-day period.
(3) Hardship.
(a) If a customer is unable to pay the full amount due because of financial hardship, then the customer may request either one of the two following options to extend the time for payment:
1. Option One.
a. The customer must notify the utility prior to the date of disconnection that the customer requires additional time to make a payment in full on all outstanding balances for services.
b. The customer's date of completion or termination of an agreement under Options One or Two for additional time to make a payment in full of all outstanding balances on services did not occur in the prior 12 months.
c. If the customer is not disqualified under division a. and division b., then the utility may extend the time for disconnection no more than 30 days or no less than 24 hours from the date and time that the request is made.
d. The Utility General Manager shall grant or deny all requests made under this section, and establish the date and time for disconnection.
e. Any modification, changes, or alterations to an agreement under this section shall be approved by the Board.
2. Option Two.
a. Prior to the date of disconnection, the customer must notify the utility that he or she requires additional time to make payment in full on all outstanding balances for services.
b. The customer must pay one fourth of the unpaid bill to the utility.
c. The customer's date of completion or termination of an agreement under Options One or Two for additional time to make a payment in full of all outstanding balances on services did not occur in the prior 24 months.
d. The customer must agree to pay the outstanding balances on services within three months in three equal installments due at the date of disconnection for those three months.
e. The customer must agree to pay all undisputed future bills for service as they become due.
f. The customer has not breached any similar agreement with the utility, whose completion date was within the prior 48 months.
(b) The utility may add to the outstanding balance a reconnection fee or/and a late payment charge pursuant to applicable ordinance.
(c) The above terms of any agreement shall be put in writing by the utility and signed by the customer and by a representative of the utility.
(d) Any person who defaults on Option One or Two must be approved by the Board before his or her utility services will be continued.
(B) Involuntary disconnections without prior notice; immediate.
(1) Conditions dangerous or hazardous to life, physical safety or property;
(2) By order of the court, or other public authority;
(3) If fraudulent or unauthorized use of gas, water, or electricity is detected and the utility has reasonable grounds to believe the customer is responsible;
(4) The tampering of water, gas, or electric meters if the utility has reasonable grounds to believe the customer was responsible; and/or
(5) If the utility’s regulating or measuring equipment has been inoperable or malfunctioning.
(C) This section shall be in force and effect as mentioned afore and after passage by the Common Council and the Mayor.
(Ord. 88-12, passed 9-12-1988; Am. Ord. 2009-05, passed 2-9-2009)