In the event any customer fails to pay all charges billed for electrical, water and sewer services, and any late charges assessed, on or before the twenty fifth day of the calendar month in which the charges are due, the customer shall be subject to the following disconnect procedures:
A. The customer shall be mailed at the customer's last known address a notice providing: 1) that the customer's electrical service shall be disconnected if all delinquent charges for electrical services and all related late charges are not paid within ten (10) days of the date of the notice; and 2) that the customer's water service shall be disconnected if all delinquent charges for water and sewer services and all related late charges are not paid within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice. The customer shall be informed in that notice that the customer may request a hearing to be held within that ten (10) day period to challenge the correctness of charges.
B. The city manager or his designee is hereby appointed as utility hearing officer for the city. If a customer requests in writing that a hearing be held during normal business hours within that ten (10) day period and that writing is received by the city no later than twenty four (24) hours prior to the time for the hearing, the utility hearing officer shall hold an informal hearing with the customer to determine if the charges are correct. The hearing may be continued by the utility hearing officer from time to time in order for the officer to assemble evidence. The determination of the utility hearing officer shall be announced to the customer at the hearing and that determination shall be final. The utility hearing officer shall not have any authority to consider questions of hardship or inability to pay.
C. If all delinquent charges for electrical services and all related late charges are not paid within the ten (10) day period and the utility hearing officer has not determined that the charges are incorrect, the electrical services for the customer shall be disconnected. The electrical meter shall be removed from the premises as part of the disconnection process. If all delinquent charges for water and sewer services and all related late charges are not paid within the fifteen (15) day period and the utility hearing officer has not determined that the charges are incorrect, the water services for the customer shall be disconnected. The water meter may be removed from the premises as part of the disconnection process, if such removal is deemed necessary by city utility personnel to prevent unauthorized reconnection to the city water system.
D. The electrical services may only be reconnected for the customer if the following are paid:
1. An electrical reconnect charge of fifty dollars ($50.00);
2. All outstanding late charges for electrical services; and
3. All delinquent charges for electrical services.
E. The water services may only be reconnected for the customer if the following are paid:
1. A water reconnect charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) ($125.00 if the water meter has been previously removed by the city);
2. All outstanding late charges for water and sewer services; and
3. All delinquent charges for water and sewer services. (Ord. 91-2, 2-28-1991, eff. 2-28-1991)