A. Meter Readings: Meters will be read periodically. For the purposes of this section, the term “periodic” or “periodically” shall mean the period between any two (2) consecutive regular meter readings taken, which reading may occur during intervals of less than, or more than, thirty (30) days. The customer shall be billed after each meter reading.
B. Date Of Billing - Payments: Bills for service or use of the city’s utilities shall be dated and sent monthly, by mail, electronically or by such other means which is acceptable to the city and the customer. Bills shall be due and payable within twenty (20) days after the date of the bill.
1. Delinquent Payment: A delinquent payment charge of ten percent (10%) of the usage and garbage on the bill shall be added to the bill after fifteen (15) days from the issuance date of the delinquent bill if balance is not paid in full. One (1) delinquent payment charge may be waived by the director of finance or designee at the request of the customer. Additional delinquent payment charges may be waived by the city manager or designee only in extenuating circumstances at the written request of the customer. The decision to grant additional waiver of delinquent payment charges rests solely with the city manager or designee.
2. Dishonored Checks/Returned ACH Payments: Any customer who presents a check or ACH payment to the city which is subsequently returned by the customer’s bank for any reason shall be subject to charges and fees set forth in the fee schedule of the city code. After three (3) incidents of returned payments, customers will be placed on a “cash basis only” status for future payments. If the returned payment was made pursuant to a shut off notice or was made to reconnect service after disconnection, the customer will immediately be subject to a disconnection of services.
C. Liability For Payment:
1. The owner of the premises being provided municipal utility service, the occupant thereof and the customer who uses the municipal utilities shall be jointly and severally liability for payment of any bill rendered by the city for such service or use.
2. Vacating of Premises by Renter: Where a renter has vacated or abandoned the premises to which municipal utility service is located, and no new renter has completed the application process, then the municipal utility service account for the premises shall be transferred to and in the name of the owner of the premises.
D. Discontinuation of Service:
1. The city shall have the right to discontinue and/or refuse any municipal utility services to the customer, with due notice, and to remove the city property from the customer’s premises whenever the utility bills are in arrears, or when the customer fails to comply with any of the conditions or obligations of this title.
a. Disconnection And Reconnection Fees: In the event utility bill(s) in excess of a hundred dollars ($100.00) remains unpaid for a period of thirty (30) days or, the director of finance shall order the subject utility service to be disconnected, or limited by a limiting meter (as described in subsection D3 below). Fifteen (15) days after the due date, a disconnect notice giving customers five (5) business days to pay the past balance due will be sent by mail. If payment is not received by the five (5) day extension, the electric and/or water will be subject to shut off without any further notice. An administrative fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be paid to the city before service is reconnected and reinstated to the delinquent customer; however, if service is reinstated between the hours of three o’clock (3:00) p.m. and seven o’clock (7:00) a.m. Monday through Friday or anytime on weekends and holidays, the administrative fee shall be three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00). All administrative fees shall be paid in addition to all outstanding monies owed by the delinquent customer, including any current charges or fees before service is restored.
b. City of Princeton municipal electric employees will not accept any type of payment when performing above mentioned shut offs. Customers will have to make required payments at city hall before service will be restored.
2. Exceptions To Disconnection Of Electrical Utility Service: No electric service furnished by the city to residential users shall be terminated for nonpayment of bills:
a. On any day when the National Weather Service’s forecast for the following twenty four (24) hours covering the Princeton, Illinois area includes a forecast that the temperature will be thirty two degrees Fahrenheit (32°F) or below; or
b. On any day when the National Weather Service’s forecast for the following twenty four (24) hours covering the Princeton area includes a forecast that the temperature will be 95 degrees Fahrenheit (95°F) or above.
c. While the primary occupant of the residence is a service member engaged in military service, as defined in 65 ILCS 5/11-117.12-2.
d. (1) Where the customer or his or her family member residing on the premises has a serious illness, requiring medical electric equipment, in which case, the customer must produce a certificate from a doctor or from the health department within five (5) days. The certificate must contain the following information:
(A) Name of the sick person;
(B) Verification the sick person is a resident of the address in question;
(C) The name, business address and telephone number of the certifying party;
(D) The nature of the illness and medical equipment requiring electricity;
(E) The period of time during which the lack of electricity will aggravate the medical condition (i.e. oxygen, electronic treatments, heart and respiratory monitors, etc.).
(2) The certification is good for one month on short-term illnesses. The certification must be renewed annually for long-term illnesses. It can also be renewed for one month if the doctor or health department writes to the director of finance again.
(3) If the certification is not renewed and your balance is delinquent, your utility service will be subject to shut off as outlined in subsection D1a.
3. In reference to subsection D2b and D2c, if the above weather or medical conditions exist, the city may put a limiting meter on a customer’s home. If the limiter is installed the customer must continue to pay current charges to avoid a complete disconnect. Reconnect fees and conditions listed in D1a of this section apply to the removal of limiting meters.
4. Exceptions To Disconnection Of All Municipal Utility Services: The disconnection of municipal utility service to a customer will not be performed on the day prior to a city observed holiday or a weekend (Saturday and Sunday).
5. Disconnection Of Certain Multi-Family Residences: Pursuant to the rental property utility service act (765 ILCS 735/0.01 et seq.) the department manager of electric and/or water for the city shall not terminate any municipal utility service to buildings with three (3) or more residential apartments which are served by a common system of water, sewer or electrical services that goes through a common meter in a single building, until such time as said director mails, delivers or posts the notice required by 765 ILCS 735/3 at least ten (10) days prior to the date of termination of said service.
6. Collection Of Delinquent Accounts:
a. The city attorney is hereby authorized and directed to institute such proceedings, in the name of the city, in any court having jurisdiction over such matters, and/or the city manager is hereby authorized to file a lien, against any property as to which the utility bill has remained unpaid for a period of sixty (60) days after it has been rendered.
b. When official bankruptcy paperwork is received by the finance department, a meter reading will be taken and a final bill prepared. The final bill will be written off as bad debt after the discharge of debtor paperwork is received. Using the meter readings collected, a new utility account will be set up for the customer and billings will resume.
E. Turn-On And Turn-Off Charges (Water): Whenever the water supply to a water connection is shut off at the request of the owner of the premises on any hour of Saturday or Sunday, or Monday through Friday between the hours of three o’clock (3:00) p.m. and seven o’clock (7:00) a.m. the city shall charge an administrative fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for water turn-off. If reinstatement of the water connection is completed within two (2) hours of the water turn-off, no fee will be charge for reinstatement. Should a reinstatement take longer than two (2) hours an additional administrative fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) will be assessed. All fees shall be assessed on the first business day following the reconnection/disconnection.