(a) Unified billing system. The City may use a unified billing system for City-furnished services. The charges for water, refuse, storm water abatement, and wastewater services may be billed on the water bill and collected as one (1) item. Failure to pay the amount due in full for any of the services may result in the discontinuation of water services as provided below.
(b) Utility bill payment. Utility bills shall be due and payable to the Utilities Customer Services Department on the bill date to the customer of record. Any utility bill remaining unpaid eighteen (18) business days after such bill date shall be deemed past due and a late charge and penalties will be applied as set forth in §§ 1-2.06 and 1-2.07 of the Ontario Municipal Code. Should a residential account remain unpaid for a period of sixty (60) calendar days from the past due date, water service to the property may be disconnected for nonpayment after the City provides notice pursuant to the City’s administrative policy on discontinuation of residential water service, described in paragraph (c) below. Should a non-residential account remain unpaid from thirty (30) calendar days from the past due date, water service to the property may be disconnected for non-payment after mailed notice to the customer of record at least ten (10) calendar days prior to termination.
Residential water customers may contest or appeal a bill in the manner described in the City’s adopted policy for discontinuation of residential water service. Non-residential customers may contest or appeal a bill using the same dispute and appeal procedures described in the policy for discontinuation of residential water service.
(c) Disconnection of Residential Water Service. The City Manager may adopt and amend a written administrative policy on discontinuation of residential water service for nonpayment pursuant to Section 6-8.46, and such policy shall be available on the City's website. Such policy may include, but may not be limited to, supplementary provisions concerning billing procedures, discontinuation of service, notification procedures, restoration of service, procedures to contest or appeal a bill, extensions or other alternative payment arrangements, protections available to qualified low-income customers, procedures for becoming a customer of the City under specified circumstances, and related matters. To the extent a policy adopted pursuant to this section conflicts with any provisions of this chapter, this chapter shall control. Except as expressly provided in this section or the policy, the policy shall not apply to non-residential customers.
(d) Water turn on/off. Once terminated, service shall not be turned on again except upon payment of all amounts due on the utility account, including all late charges and penalties, and the cost of making a service call to turn the water off and/or on. The fee to cover the cost of making a service call to turn the water off and/or on shall be set forth in an ordinance adopted by the City Council. Residential customers who demonstrate a household income below 200% of the federal poverty line may be eligible for reduced turn-on fees pursuant to applicable law and as further described in the City's policy on discontinuation of residential water service.
(f) Special bill rate. Special bills, split bills, any other irregular bills, or bills covering irregular billing periods, shall be calculated by the Municipal Utilities Company; provided, however, the adjusted rate so made shall be reasonable in accordance with the rate schedule set forth in this section.
(g) Determination of minimum charges. For the purpose of determining minimum charges as set forth in this section, each separate meter connected to the water system shall be charged on individual readiness-to-serve meter fee and commodity charge.
(§ 6, Ord. 2785, eff. November 16, 2003, as amended by § 4, Ord. 2946, eff. January 6, 2012; § 3, Ord. 3251, eff. July 20, 2023)