(A) All water meters shall be read by the city monthly on or about the twentieth day of each month, or as soon as thereafter as may be practical and feasible.
(B) Water bills shall be rendered monthly to customers and users of the services and facilities of the waterworks and water distribution system on or before the first day of the month ensuing after the reading of the meters, or as soon thereafter as may be practical and feasible. All customers shall be required to pay the amount of their respective water bills in full and without discount on or before the tenth of the month ensuing after the reading of the meters and the rendering of the bill for water service, and after the close of ordinary business hours on said tenth day a 10% penalty for delinquency shall be added to the amount of the bill, and interest at 6% per annum, until the bill, penalty, and interest are paid in full.
(C) The city shall disconnect utility service in accord with the following policies:
(1) When it becomes necessary for the city 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 and any deposit required has been made. It is the policy of the city 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. The city’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 ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(c) That any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he or she may be choosing and may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the city official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint.
(2) 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.
(D) Service discontinued for nonpayment shall not be restored until the account is paid in full, plus a $6 service charge for restoring service.
(Ord. passed 3-8-1971)