A. Applicability. This section applies to all customers utilizing city water, sewer, and/or sanitation services.
B. Billing periods; due date.
1. Bills for service will be rendered monthly as per § 13-1-1, or for shorter periods if so stated in the applicable schedule or if notice of a shorter billing period is given to the customer. Bills are due when rendered and shall be considered as having been received by the customer when delivered or mailed to the mail address provided by the customer, service address, or to some other place mutually agreed upon.
2. Non-receipt of bills by the customer shall not release or diminish the obligation of the customer with respect to the payment thereof.
C. Minimum bills. Each bill for water service shall not be less than the minimum charge specified in § 12-6-10. Where service on a monthly basis is discontinued within 30 days after the beginning of service, and the consumption is less than the quantity covered by the monthly minimum bill, a minimum monthly bill shall be paid by the consumer to compensate the city for extra expenses incurred.
D. Guarantee deposits.
1. Upon opening an account basis, a minimum guarantee deposit as per Article 13-1 shall be paid for each residential unit, at the time of making application for service.
2. No interest is paid by the city on guarantee deposits.
E. Delinquent bills.
1. Bills are due when rendered; billing time frame and late penalties are set forth in § 13-1-1. Upon termination of service, the guarantee deposit shall be applied to the outstanding bill for that customer and final statement shall be rendered showing the balance due.
2. Service shall not be reinstituted until the final statement is paid in full and the customer makes application for services and pays the guarantee deposit at the then established rate, as provided herein above.
3. A customer's water service shall be discontinued and no new application shall be accepted at any new location when there remains an outstanding final statement for unpaid water service at any previous location.
F. Bills from a previous location. A customer's water service shall be discontinued for nonpayment of a bill for service to the customer at a previous location served by the city, provided that the bill is not paid within 30 days after the original bill for the previous location is mailed.
G. Evidence of consumption. The service rendered by the city shall be measured by meters. The meter readings shall serve as prima facie evidence of the quantity of water delivered to the customer.
H. Appeal and hearing procedures. If the customer disagrees with the amount due, he or she may call or visit City Hall to arrange for a hearing on the matter. If the city does not hear from the customer on a timely basis and he or she does not pay their bill by the time specified on the delinquent notice, water service will be turned off without further notice.
(Ord. 175, passed 1-18-1988)