(A) All bills for water service shall, at the option of the utility, be rendered either monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly as may be specified in the utility's applicable rate. Bills are payable on or before the date specified on bill and, if so paid, the net rates and charges set forth in the utility's schedule shall apply. If not so paid, the gross rates set forth in the applicable schedule shall apply. Failure to receive the bill will not entitle the consumer to the net rates nor to the remission of any charge for nonpayment within the time specified.
(B) In the event of the stoppage of or the failure of the water meter to register the full amount of water consumed, the consumer will be billed for such billing period on an estimated consumption basis which will be based upon the consumer's normal use of water in a similar period during the time the meter was registering correctly.
(C) If a question arises as to meter accuracy and the consumer requests the utility to test the meter, the following procedure and charges applies:
(1) If the meter is found to be correct within 2%, the consumer shall pay the applicable charge specified in § 53.089. This payment is to partially cover the costs involved to remove the meter, bring it into the shop, test same and reinstalling the original or at the utility's option a replacement meter.
(2) If the meter inaccuracy is found to be greater than 2%, the expense of the test shall be borne by the utility. Where the meter inaccuracy is in excess of 2%, the adjustment shall not cover a period of water usage that is in excess of the regular billing period.
(D) All meter readings and billings shall be in the measured units specified in the applicable rate schedule, either in 1,000's gallons or 100's of cubic feet.
(E) For service involving a partial billing period where either the initial billing period after service is first established or the final billing period up to the time discontinuance of service by the consumer is less than the regular billing period, the following billing procedure will apply:
(1) Where “system capacity charge” does not apply.
(a) When service is initially established to the consumer and the period of service involves 5 days or less of the utility's regular billing period when billed monthly or 10 days when billed bi-monthly or 15 days when billed quarterly, the consumer's initial usage will be carried over into the next succeeding regular billing period at that location and shall be combined with and be considered as part of same.
(b) For all other service furnished for a partial billing period of more than 5 days when billed monthly or 10 days when billed bi-monthly or 15 days when billed quarterly, and all final bills irrespective of the number of days of service, the bill shall be calculated in accordance with the rate blocks and charges (including minimum charges) as set forth in the applicable rate schedule and no proration of rate blocks or minimum charge shall be made.
(2) Where “system capacity charge” applies. For initial service where the capacity charge as set forth in the schedule is applicable, the capacity charge will be billed as follows:
(a) Where the initial period of service is 5 days or less when billed monthly or 10 days when billed bi-monthly or 15 days when billed quarterly, the capacity charge shall be combined and made a part of the succeeding billing period at that location.
(b) Where the initial period of service is from 6 to 15 days inclusive when billed monthly or 16 to 30 days when billed bi-monthly or more than 30 days when billed quarterly, the capacity charge will be prorated and billed on a 50% basis. The commodity charge shall in all cases be billed as is actually set forth in the rate schedule with no proration rate blocks whatever.
(c) Where the initial period of service exceeds the corresponding periods specified in division 2(b) above, or where a final bill is involved, the billing shall be as set forth in the applicable rate schedule and no proration of the capacity charge, rate blocks or minimum charges shall be made.
(F) A consumer who intends to move from the premises or discontinue the use of water shall give the utility reasonable notice of such intention as specified in § 53.086. The consumer or property owner shall be liable for all water used on the premises until such notice is given and the utility has made the final meter reading and determined the consumer's or property owner's liability as to the payment of bills for water service furnished to final meter reading data.
(G) All water that passes through a meter shall be charged for, whether used, wasted, stolen, or lost by leakage, at the standard water rate for the consumer. Water charges may be adjusted for the following reasons:
(1) An inaccurate meter as set forth in § 53.085(C).
(2) An improper billing of the account.
(3) Any other adjustment required to correct proven inequities in billing.
(4) When a property owner or village personnel discover a problem on the customer's property, such as a service line break or leak, which causes significant increase in water usage to the property, above the normal average usage, and the problem was not caused by the negligent actions of the property owner, the Village Administrator may, depending upon the specific documented circumstances, charge the property owner for the water that passed through the meter at the village's lowest user rate of the standard customer rate. The lost, unused water shall be considered to be the amount of water passing through the meter which is greater than the average use for any billing period over the previous 12 months.
(H) The following procedures shall be used for appeal of the Village Administrator's decision regarding the adjustment of the water billing amount:
(1) Rulings of the Village Administrator may be appealed in writing to the Adjustment Committee. Notice of the appeal shall be delivered to the Village Administrator no later than 30 days after the billing date unless good cause is shown why the appeal should be considered after 30 days. The notice shall include any and all documentation or written statements the appellant may want considered by the Adjustment Committee.
(2) An Adjustment Committee shall be created within the village to consider appeals of the Village Administrator's decision for adjustments to water billings. The Adjustment Committee shall have the same members of Council as the Village Property Maintenance Committee as set forth in § 93.40(E)(1). Other persons may be called on as needed, in order to provide input that is necessary to resolve the matter at hand.
(3) The written request for an appeal from a customer shall be considered by the Adjustment Committee which will investigate the matter before it and consider all pertinent facts in reaching a conclusion of the matter. The Adjustment Committee may consider the appeal on the written documents or, at its discretion, hold a hearing on the appeal. The Adjustment Committed shall answer the appeal in writing to the customer within 30 days.
(Ord. passed 5-1-80; Am. Ord. 08-2012, passed 8-6-12)