§ 52.014 CHARGES AND BILLING; RATE SCHEDULE; ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS.
   (A)   Generally.
      (1)   All charges related to the provision of water service both within and outside city limits is chargeable to the customer. The owner of the premises, if different than the customer, may be required to pay all charges, costs, delinquencies and related fees associated with furnishing water to the premises.
      (2)   (a)   Bills for water service are payable on the 20th day of the month.
         (b)   Any bill not paid by that date is subject to a surcharge in an amount of not less than 10% of the original bill.
         (c)   Surcharge is compounded monthly.
      (3)   Beginning balances past due are due by the ninth day of the month. If the past due balance is not paid by the ninth, water service to the property may be terminated pursuant to § 52.015(B) of this chapter.
      (4)   Each water meter shall be read monthly unless the city determines that conditions exist which make monthly reading impractical. If monthly reading is impractical, the city shall determine the monthly use of water by any reasonable means. The failure by the city to read water meters or bill customers for water delivered shall not operate to relieve the customer from liability for water charges at the established rates.
      (5)   Each hydrant meter shall be read, for the purpose of billing, prior to permitted use and a final reading taken after discontinuance of use or at the end of 30 days, whichever is earliest.
      (6)   There shall be a monthly charge for water service to each dwelling unit, and or premises based upon meter size. The charge shall be a combination base charge and volumetric rate which shall be evaluated on an annual basis by the City Council to ensure financial solvency of the city water system.
(Prior Code, § 3.05.160)
   (B)   Rate schedule. All rates, fees, costs, connection charges, utility deposits and other expenses for water and water related services may be established and thereafter adjusted from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(Prior Code, § 3.05.170)
   (C)   Adjustment of accounts. Customer accounts shall be adjusted for any of the following circumstances.
      (1)   Accounts receiving 15 days or less of service in a month shall be billed one-half of the minimum monthly charge unless calculation of metered service results in a higher charge.
      (2)   When upon testing, a meter is found to be registering more than 2% fast, under conditions of normal operation, the city shall refund to the customer the full amount of the overcharge, based on corrected meter readings for a period not to exceed three months.
      (3)   When, upon test, a meter is found to be registering more than 5% slow, the city may bill the customer for the amount of the undercharge, based upon corrected meter readings.
      (4)   The city may charge a customer for water consumed while a meter was not registering at the minimum monthly meter rate according to the customer’s prior use during the same period of the prior year or other appropriate method as determined by the city.
(Prior Code, § 3.05.180)
   (D)   Responsibility for payment of bills. The customer shall be responsible for all charges for water consumption, except as provided in division (C) above. In addition to deposit, the city shall obtain a signed agreement from the owner of the premises that they accept liability for any charges accruing as a result of the provision of water service and that a lien can be filed against the premises if charges are not paid.
(Prior Code, § 3.05.190) (Ord. 260, passed 4-5-1999; Ord. 274, passed 6-26-2000; Ord. 275, passed 6-5-2000; Ord. 287, passed 4-16-2001; Ord. 294, passed 7-1-2002; Ord. 313, passed 4-5-2004; Ord. 318, passed 7-19-2004)