(A) Bills for gas service shall be rendered monthly and shall be delinquent after the tenth day of the month following their rendition. Extensions will be provided for Sundays and legal holidays. There will be a delinquent re-connection charge of $10.
(B) When the bill of any gas customer becomes delinquent, the City Clerk shall notify the customer in writing by United States postal mail, with proper postage affixed thereon, that the gas service is to be terminated. The notice specifically shall inform the user of the following and shall be in the form determined by the hearing officer designated below:
(1) The hearing officer will be appointed by the Mayor from time to time.
(2) The customer may contact the Clerk to request a hearing on the matter; and
(3) The request must be made within three days of receipt of the termination notice; and
(4) If the request is made, a hearing will be held within ten days of the receipt of the delinquent notice; and
(5) The service will be discontinued on the first day of the month following delinquency if no request for a hearing is made.
(C) In the event a customer requests a hearing before termination of service for nonpayment of a delinquent gas bill, the Clerk shall, at the time the request is made, advise the person of the time, place and date for the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by a hearing officer. The hearing officer shall examine evidence submitted by the customer and by the city and on the basis thereof make findings as to the status of the customer's account.
(D) If the findings reached at the hearing are adverse to the customer, the findings shall be promptly reduced to writing, with a copy thereof to be forwarded by the customer and owner of the property served, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. The notice also should contain the date on which service to the customer will be discontinued.
(E) Gas service to a residential user shall, in no event, be disconnected for nonpayment of bills when the Springfield, Illinois, National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours forecasts the temperature to be 20° Fahrenheit or lower or on any day preceding a holiday or weekend when such a forecast indicates the temperature will be 20° Fahrenheit or below during the holiday or weekend.
('74 Code, § 27-161) (Ord. 1060, passed 7-21-87; Am. Ord. 1251, passed 6-5-01; Am. Ord. 1283, passed 8-5-03)