(A) Applications for municipal utility services shall be in writing on a form prescribed by the Finance Director.
(B) Utility services can be initiated by written application or by telephone. If utility services are activated by telephone, a written application and either deposit or waiver verification must be received by the City Finance Department within five business days of service activation, otherwise the utility services may be discontinued.
(C) A non-refundable application fee shall be collected from each applicant for municipal utility services for each service location. The amount of the application fee will be as set by resolution of the Council.
(D) Deposit requirements unless waived as provided in this chapter shall be determined by the Finance Director based on the applicant's past municipal utility account history and any other pertinent information pursuant to this chapter.
(E) Accepted applications will be set up as utility accounts and thereafter billed accordingly as set forth by resolutions, ordinances, and/or policies in effect at the time of application, and at all times of service.
(F) Municipal utility policies shall govern the obligations and rights of municipal utility customers. The municipal utility policies shall consist of ordinances, City Utility Services Policy, resolutions, and shall be consistent with applicable sections of the California Public Utilities Code, and administrative directives applying to municipal utilities.
(G) A customer whose application is accepted shall be responsible for the utility bill at the service location until a request for termination of service, or other written notice is received in the Department of Finance office, as prescribed in § 8-7.12 of this chapter.
(H) A residential property owner shall be responsible for utility services to the unoccupied property, if any, during the time period in which the Finance Department receives a termination of service request from the previous tenant and the time the Finance Department receives a request for service from the subsequent tenant. The property owner will not be responsible for the utility services if it can be established that another tenant occupied the property between the time a termination of service request was received and the time a request for service was received. During such time period, the tenant occupying the property shall be responsible for the utility service.
(Ord. 731 C.S., passed 5-16-01; Am. Ord. 919 C.S., passed 5-20-15)