(A) Bills will be mailed or delivered or to the customer at the address of the premises served, unless the customer shall, in writing, request that they shall be sent to some other address specified by him/her, but failure to receive a bill shall not relieve the customer from the obligation to pay the bill when it is due. Each bill for water and sewer service loses its prompt payment discount 15 days after the billing date thereof. If a water or sewer bill remains unpaid until the time the next monthly bill is being generated (30 days after it has been posted) the city shall automatically add a 10% penalty charge to any bill's remaining outstanding balance at that date. A 15 day notice of disconnection will be served on the property announcing the shut off of the service. All water service to delinquent users shall be discontinued without further notice if the account has not been paid in 45 days from the posting of the bills, and more than $25 in arrears.
(B) The net amount of a customer's bill will be accepted if mailed on or before the past due date indicated on the bill. The post office date stamped by the sending office will determine the mailing date of the customers payment. When payment is made of the net amount after the past due payment date, the city may credit the amount enclosed to each customer's account and add the difference between the gross and net bill to the next bill. Such difference will, however, be subject to the automatic 10% late penalty charge.
(C) The past due date of a customers bill will be automatically extended to include the first full business day following a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday.
(D) Bills for water and sewer service (except final bills on discontinuance of service) may be rendered monthly, and in the case of metered service shall show the quantity of water used as the billing basis for the period for which the bill is rendered. Bills for private fire protection service shall be rendered in advance.
(E) In cases in which a meter cannot be read, whatever the cause, the city may require a payment on account equal to a representative charge for a period of similar for service rendered to the same premises.
(F) A customer desiring water service to be discontinued temporarily to a premises used or occupied for only part of the year shall so notify the city. Such premises, save and except public parks, public playgrounds, educational buildings and facilities and lots or parcels of land being furnished water service solely for lawn sprinkling or other irrigation purposes, shall, however remain subject to continuous year-round charges at regular metered rates and base cost charges.
(G) At such time as the city is notified of the change in tenancy or ownership, requiring the filing of a new application for water service whether such notice is given by the old customer or otherwise, the city shall make a final meter reading and shall render a final billing. The customer in whose name the account stands at the time such final bill is rendered shall be immediately liable for said final bill. Upon rendering of the final bill, the service contract shall be terminated. At that time water service may be physically discontinued to the residence, business, or industrial facilities. Service to the premises will not be restored until payment of the bill has been received.
(H) Disconnection will occur if the user fails to provide access to the property served, for the purpose of installing, reading or maintaining the metering systems, after being given notice and a reasonable time in which to comply with such notice. Discontinuance of service under these circumstances shall be immediate.
(Ord. 6-96, passed 4-10-96)