(A) All bills shall be due and payable monthly on a combined statement form prepared by the utility. Bills unpaid for more than 15 days following the due date shall incur a collection charge in the amount established by ordinance. In addition, disconnection procedures will be instituted as set forth in division (B), for bills not paid on or before the due date. ('82 Code, § 36-9-2-1(b))
(Ord. passed 12-10-57; Am. Ord. passed 11-22-68; Am. Ord. passed 4-13-76; Am. Ord. passed 5-18-82)
(B) The town shall disconnect utility service in accord with the following policies:
(1) When it becomes necessary for the town to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid in full and any reconnection charge required has been made.
(2) It is the policy of the town to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills.
(3) The town’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(a) That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;
(b) That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within 15 days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(c) That any customer disputing the correctness of the customer’s bill shall have a right to a hearing prior to disconnection.
(4) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified on the second bill.
(Am. Ord. 2016-01, passed 2-11-16)