CHAPTER 50: UTILITIES GENERALLY
Section
   50.01   Lien for delinquent utilities
   50.02   Gas rates
   50.03   Bills for electric, water, and sewer use
   50.04   Utility franchise fee
§ 50.01 LIEN FOR DELINQUENT UTILITIES.
   In addition to all other remedies, if a utility customer of the city shall, for any reason, remain indebted to the city for utilities service furnished, such amount due, together with any rents, charges, and fees in arrears, shall be considered a delinquent utility charge which is hereby declared to be a lien upon the real estate for which the same was furnished. The City Clerk shall notify in writing, or cause to be notified in writing, all owners of the real estate or their agents whenever their tenants or lessees are 60 days or more delinquent in the payment of the utilities charge. It shall be the duty of the City Clerk to report to the Mayor and City Council a list of all unpaid accounts due for utilities service together with a description of the address or real estate served. The report shall be examined, and if approved by the Mayor and City Council, shall be certified by the City Clerk to the County Clerk to be collected as a special tax in the manner provided by law.
(Ord. 695, passed 3-6-2019)
Statutory reference:
   Generally, see Neb. RS 17-538, 17-925.01, 18-503
§ 50.02 GAS RATES.
   The rates charged for natural gas transportation to customers in the city, unless otherwise approved by the Mayor and City Council, shall not exceed the following, effective on or after the date the utility implements the unbundling of residential sales service.
Customer charge per month
 
   Commercial service
$6 per meter*
   Residential service
$5 per meter*
Delayed payment charge
5% on the first $20 of bill, plus 2% on excess
Usage charge - commercial
 
   First 10 therms per month
$0.368825 per therm
   Next 40 therms per month
$0.343825 per therm
   Next 450 therms per month
$0.076528 per therm
   Over 500 therms per month
$0.051528 per therm
Usage charge - residential
 
   First 10 therms per month
$0.202991 per therm
   Next 40 therms per month
$0.177991 per therm
   Next 450 therms per month
$0.076528 per therm
   Over 500 therms per month
$0.051528 per therm
*   Minimum monthly charge shall equal the customer charge
Bills will be rendered at monthly intervals
 
(Ord. 597, passed 2-2-1999)
§ 50.03 BILLS FOR ELECTRIC, WATER, AND SEWER USE.
    All bills for electric service, water, and sewer use shall be due and payable at the office of the City Clerk on the first day of the month in which issued, and if not paid by the tenth day of the month in which issued, a penalty equal to 10% of the amount of the bill will be added thereto, and if not paid by the twentieth of the money in which issued, service will be disconnected and a charge of $25 will be made for reconnection.
(Ord. 700, passed 1-8-2020; Ord. 713, passed 3-3-2021; Ord. 733, passed 9-7-2022)
Cross-reference:
   Billing for electric service, see also § 53.13
§ 50.04 UTILITY FRANCHISE FEE.
   There is hereby assessed a franchise fee for the distribution of electricity for sale in an amount equal to 15% of the gross receipts derived from the business of distributing and selling electricity. Payments shall be made in monthly payments. Each monthly payment shall be due 15 days immediately following the termination of each month. The franchise fee paid under the provisions of this section shall be credited to the General Fund of the city.
(Ord. 714, passed 4-7-2021)