A. Failure of any customer to pay any part of a utility bill for any utility services pursuant to this section by the past due date which is printed on the bill will result in the following actions and penalties:
1. A penalty on all amounts owing on a utility bill may be added to any utility bill which is not paid by the past due date printed on the bill;
2. Within seven (7) days from receipt of the penalty notice, the authorized agents of the authority may disconnect or discontinue any or all utility services to the customer after mailing or posting written notice to the customer of the intent to disconnect or discontinue any or all of the utility services.
B. If any utility service is discontinued or disconnected pursuant to this section, the authority, or its agents, shall not reconnect or reestablish the service until the full amount of any outstanding utility service bill is paid, plus the penalty provided in this section, plus any applicable charges or expenses in reconnecting or reestablishing the service.
C. All utility bills for water, sewer, garbage, or electricity shall be due and payable on or before the due date set out in the statement furnished to the customer.
1. Deferral of payment. One deferral arrangement is allowed in a twelve (12) month period. The deferral must be completed prior to disconnect date and is in effect for five (5) days thereafter.
2. Denial of service. The authority may refuse service to a customer when there remains an unpaid account balance for services previously provided. Also, the unpaid account balance will be transferred to any open account, if applicable. The authority shall not be required to provide service to an applicant who uses an alias, trade name, business name, or the name of a relative or other person as a devise to escape payment of an unpaid obligation. The authority may require, to maintain service, payment of unpaid utility bills of another person when a previous customer with an unpaid account remains an occupant or user of the authority at the same utility address. Further, the authority may refuse service to any renter when the property owner has an outstanding balance for utilities, until such time as the unpaid obligation is paid. The authority may require photo identification of any customer receiving service from the authority. The authority may request a renter to provide a copy of the signed lease, rental agreement, or letter from the landlord. The property owner or landlord may guarantee in writing a portion of, or all of the required deposit. If the account is disconnected for nonpayment, the property owner or landlord becomes personally responsible for the unpaid account. No additional service will be provided on the property until the delinquent account is satisfied.
3. Returned checks. If the authority receives three (3) returned checks on any utility customer during a twelve (12) month period, all payment transactions for that customer will be required to be made by cash or money order only.
4. Delinquency cutoff. All accounts shall be subject to disconnection of service for nonpayment five (5) days after penalty assessment. Penalties are assessed the first working day after the tenth day following mailing of the utility bills. Accounts with a deferral arrangement are subject to disconnection of services ten (10) days after penalty assessment. If a landlord becomes delinquent on an account and is subject to disconnect, or final bills are not paid by the due date, the appropriate deposit and connect fee will be required until the account has a favorable twelve (12) month credit history without penalties, disconnects or returned checks.
5. Theft of service or meter tampering. A deposit for an amount, at the discretion of the authority, above the stated deposit may be required for service to be connected at any address, active or inactive, if theft of utility service or meter tampering has occurred. Requests for deviations from the policies stated in this section will be considered based upon demonstrated verifiable need at the discretion of the secretary of the authority or designee.