Rates and charges shall be prepared, billed and collected by the city in the manner provided by this code, or by any other applicable law or ordinance of the city:
(A) The rates and charges for all users shall be prepared and billed monthly. A customer may enroll in the level billing program as follows:
(1) As an alternative to billing for the actual amount of utilities used each month, residential customers shall be given the option of enrolling into the level billing program. Those residential customers so enrolled shall be billed equal monthly installments during an 11-month billing cycle (level billing period) commencing with the July billing every year, with the equal monthly installments (level billing amount) determined by averaging the previous 12-months’ bills at the same location. The equal monthly installments (level billing period) may be adjusted at any time at the discretion of the utility business office.
(2) The accounts will be reconciled with the June bill each year by comparing the actual charges incurred during the level billing period, plus the June charges, against the actual amount paid during the level billing period. If there is a balance due, the balance must be paid by the due date on the June bill. If an overpayment of the account has occurred, the overpayment will be refunded, thereby starting the next level billing period with a zero balance.
(3) Enrollment by electing customers must be completed before June 30 or prior to the billing for sewer customers’ July statement, whichever is later. The customer must at all times be current with their utility bill in order to participate in the level billing program, or their participation will be terminated. Customers electing this level billing program remain subject to all other rules and regulations of the Washington Municipal Utilities, including but not limited to, those regarding late payments, penalties and disconnection.
(4) Participation in the program will continue from year-to-year without having to re-enroll.
(5) Customers may terminate their enrollment in the level billing program by written notification to the utility business office and giving the utility business office a reasonable opportunity to act on it. The account will then be reconciled and any balance due must be paid upon termination.
(B) The rates and charges may be billed to the tenant or tenants occupying the properties served, unless otherwise requested in writing by the owner, but the billing shall in no way relieve the owner from the liability in the event payment is not made as herein required. The owners of properties served, which are occupied by a tenant or tenants, shall have the right to examine the collection records of the city for the purpose of determining whether bills have been paid by the tenant or tenants, provided that the examination shall be made at the office at which the records are kept and during the hours that the office is open for business.
(C) Bills are prepared and billed on a cycle basis. Bills are due 21 days from the statement date. To all bills not paid on or within two days after the due date, there shall be added collection charges as follows: for sewer: 10% of total.
(Prior Code, § 52.120) (Ord. 2-89, passed 5-22-1989; Am. Ord. 8-2009, passed 4-27-2009; Am. Ord. 5-2014, passed 3-24-2014)
Cross-reference:
Methods of payment, see § 55.01