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(a) In the event any water meter has failed to register the water used, the estimated charge for water service shall be based on the previous year's consumption amount. If the customer does not have consumption history for the prior year period, the average of the class or other equitable method may be utilized.
(b) In the event meters that are equipped with an automatic meter reading device (AMRs) that fail to transmit readings, the billing will be corrected by utilizing the actual meter reading registered on the meter. The consumption will be distributed over the months where the reading transmission failed.
(c) When the accuracy of a water meter is questioned by the consumer, the department shall cause an official test to be made upon payment by the consumer in the amount of one hundred eleven dollars and thirty-seven cents ($111.37). For testing three (3) inch or larger meters, the charge shall be based on a department estimate of the actual cost.
If, upon completion of the official test, it is found that the meter is registering over three (3) percent more water than actually passes through at any flow, another meter will be substituted therefor, and the fee charge for such test will be refunded to the applicant. An adjustment for a period of three (3) months prior to the test will be made on the basis of the percentage the meter is over-registering.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 24; Ord. No. 4489, § 11, 5-24-76; Ord. No. 4626, § 9, 3-3-77; Ord. No. 7391, § 6, 4-16-90; Ord. No. 8446, § 3, 2-13-95; Ord. No. 9238, § 5, 6-14-99; Ord. No. 9377, § 1, 4-17-00; Ord. No. 9388, § 1, 5-22-00; Ord. No. 9555, § 1, 5-14-01; Ord. No. 9704, § 2, 5-13-02; Ord. No. 9842, § 1, 5-12-03; Ord. No. 9977, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10359, § 2, 12-12-06, eff. 1-16-07; Ord. No. 10510, § 2, 3-18-08, eff. 7-1-08; Ord. No. 10897, § 2, 5-24-11, eff. 7-5-11; Ord. No. 11072, § 2, 5-21-13, eff. 7-1-13)
Whenever a meter has been removed for any cause for more than thirty (30) days, the superintendent of the water department may fix a flat charge based upon the average charges for the previous three (3) months, or the same amount as was charged during the same month or period the year preceding, whichever is the lower amount.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 24)
In addition to the rates established by this article, the superintendent of the water department is hereby directed to charge and collect for all water used by any person performing any street improvement or other public work contract with the city.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 29)
The superintendent of the water department is hereby directed to charge and collect a reasonable amount for all waters used by any person in flooding trenches and other excavations which have been made or dug in the construction of any sewers, manholes, pipelines, gas mains, telephone or electric light conduits in the city; and the rate to be so charged shall be fixed by the superintendent of the water department.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 30)
Whenever a service enters upon any property and its branches and extensions pass through the bounds of such property for the purpose of furnishing a supply of water to any adjoining property, the property upon which the service first enters shall be charged for the water furnished by any and all branches, extensions, etc., of the service; and should a meter be installed upon such service, the rate for water shall be assessed to the property first named.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 28; Ord. No. 11072, § 2, 5-21-13, eff. 7-1-13)
Water rates are due and payable at the office of the water department upon determination of the amount of charge for the water rate. Water rates are delinquent if not paid within twenty (20) days of the date the charges are due and payable.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 25; Ord. No. 3394, § 13, 1-12-70)
(1) Discontinuing service for nonpayment.
(a) If a customer's account balance is greater than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and if that balance has been outstanding for forty (40) days, the customer shall be given written notice that the account is past due. This notice shall also inform the customer of the right to dispute the balance, in accordance with section 27-50(2). The notice shall further state that the customer has seven (7) days from the date of the written notice to contact the utility if the customer wishes to dispute the balance before a hearing officer in accordance with section 27-50(2).
(b) If no payment has been received within seven (7) days following the written notice, the customer shall be given a secondary notice that the account is delinquent and the service subject to turn-off. At this time a delinquent service charge of eleven dollars and twenty-five cents ($11.25) shall be assessed on the customer's account.
(c) If the delinquent balance is not paid within an additional seven (7) days, the water supply shall, without further notification, be turned off, the meter locked, and a delinquent service charge of fifty-five dollars and fifty-two cents ($55.52) assessed on the customer's account. However, if the customer is disputing the water bill in accordance with section 27-50(2), water service shall not be turned off until, or unless, the customer's dispute is found to be without merit by the hearing officer.
(d) If a customer whose meter has been locked has not paid within an additional seven (7) days, the customer's account shall be terminated. Prior to reestablishing service, the full account balance shall be paid.
(2) Customer right to dispute account balance.
(a) Customers objecting to the actions, policies, or decisions of the water department with regard to utility service billing may informally appeal to the billing office superintendent in person, by telephone, or via electronic and/or postal mail.
(b) The billing office will attempt, in a timely manner, to resolve the situation.
(c) If the problem is not resolved by an informal appeal, the customer shall be advised of the right to an administrative hearing.
(d) The director of the water utility shall appoint a hearing officer to resolve customer billing disputes. For any particular dispute, the hearing officer shall have had no previous involvement with the customer's case. In the event that such involvement exists, the director shall designate another hearing officer.
(e) This hearing officer shall be authorized to make a decision as to the validity of the customer's dispute, and, if the customer's dispute is found to be valid, shall also be authorized to make the appropriate corrections to the customer's account, including the potential removal of delinquent service charges.
(f) If the hearing officer requires a more complete set of facts than can be gathered at the time of the hearing, the officer shall make whatever investigation is necessary before rendering a decision.
(g) The customer's water service shall not be terminated until and unless the hearing officer completes the investigation and finds the customer's dispute to be without merit. However, the hearing process does not relieve the customer of the obligation to pay water bills. The customer must continue to pay in a timely manner, all water bills received or be subject to delinquent service charges should the account balance exceed seventy-five dollars ($75.00).
(h) The hearing officer's determination regarding disputed customer account balance is final.
(1953 Code, ch. 25, § 26; Ord. No. 2665, § 10, 9-21-64; Ord. No. 3394, § 14, 1-12-70; Ord. No. 4626, § 10, 3-3-77; Ord. No. 4874, § 1, 9-5-78; Ord. No. 5355, § 5, 4-20-81; Ord. No. 9043, § 5, 4-13-98; Ord. No. 9238, § 6, 6-14-99; Ord. No. 9388, § 1, 5-22-00; Ord. No. 9704, § 2, 5-13-02; Ord. No. 10359, § 2, 12-12-06, eff. 1-16-07; Ord. No. 10510, § 2, 3-18-08, eff. 7-1-08; Ord. No. 10897, § 2, 5-24-11, eff. 7-5-11; Ord. No. 11072, § 2, 5-21-13, eff. 7-1-13)
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