(A) Discontinuance of service for nonpayment of utility bill. Murray Municipal Utilities (MMU) may discontinue or refuse services to customers for nonpayment of or outstanding indebtedness for utility services. If payment of the utility bill has not been received by Murray Municipal Utilities on or before the due date stated on the bill, a second notice, the written termination notice, shall be mailed to the customer. If payment has not been received on or before the tenth (10th) day following the due date of the bill, MMU will send its service technician to the customer's premises, and services will be discontinued (unless, according to the service technician's judgment, discontinuance of service would endanger life or property.) Failure to pay any part of the utility bill as rendered will subject all services to be discontinued unless arrangements for payment have been made with the city’s Director of Finance.
(B) Refusal of service for outstanding indebtedness. New service may be refused to any customer who has a delinquent account with MMU for any type of past service. If an application for service is approved for a former customer who still owes for past service, the balance due for the past service shall become an arrears on the new account established by the applicant. If a customer has service at more than one location and terminates service at one of the locations, any delinquent balance resulting from the termination shall become an arrears on the billing for one of the other locations at which the customer is being served. Service may be refused if it is evident to MMU that the applicant is living in arrears on the billing for one of the other locations at which the customer is being served. Service may be refused if it is evident to MMU that the applicant is living in the same dwelling at the same location with a former customer who still owes for former services rendered by the utility.
(C) Discontinuance or refusal of service for reasons other than nonpayment. Murray Municipal Utilities may refuse to connect service or may discontinue service for the violation of any municipal, state or other rules and regulations, schedule of rates and charges, or any contract between the utility and the customer. For purposes of this chapter, tampering with a meter is considered theft of services within the meaning of the Kentucky Penal Code. The utility may discontinue service to the customer without advance notice if it has evidence that any of the following conditions exist:
(1) Unauthorized service by illegal use or theft;
(2) Theft of gas or water or for the appearance of theft devices on the premises;
(3) Supplying or selling of gas, water, or sewer waste water service to other persons or premises without a written permit; or
(4) Waste or failure to maintain service lines beyond the meter owned by the customer.
(D) Discontinuance of service for dangerous condition. If, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Field Operations Manager or designee, a dangerous condition relating to a utility's service that could subject a person to imminent harm or result in substantial damage to the property of the utility or others is found to exist on the customer's premises, the service shall be refused or terminated without advance notice.
(E) Should any property owner or customer construct a fence or other barrier, allow untethered animals, install plants, shrubbery, or any other obstruction that impedes MMU's ability to access, service or read the meter, a notice to remove such obstruction shall be issued. If the obstruction is not remedied by the property owner or customer, the customer's gas service shall be relocated at the property owner or customer's expense and a civil penalty may be charged according to § 51.99(B).
(F) The discontinuance of service by MMU for any cause does not release the customer from his or her payment obligation to MMU for any services rendered.
(G) Customer's right to due process. When any service is discontinued or terminated for reasons other than imminent danger, the customer has a right to appeal and to due process under the law. See § 50.16, Customer Complaints and Appeals Process.
(Ord. 711, passed 7-24-80; Am. Ord. 93-998, passed 3-25-93; Am. Ord. 2006-1396, passed 2-9-06; Am. Ord. 2022-1836, passed 12-8-22)