(A) (1) It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills.
(2) The city’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible, and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(a) All bills are due and payable prior to 12:00 a.m. of the eighteenth day of the month;
(b) If any bill that is not paid by or before that date is deemed late; after the bill becomes ten days late, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(c) Any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to a hearing, at which time he or she may be represented in person and by counsel, or any other person of his or her choosing, and may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the city official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued, and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint.
(3) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
(4) When it becomes necessary for the city to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, the same will not be reconnected until water bills in arrears have been paid and a fee will be required to reconnect the water service, according to the following schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, $50; after hours $100.
(B) In addition to the grounds for termination set forth in division (A) above, the city shall have the right to disconnect or refuse to connect, or reconnect, any utility service for the following reasons, and pursuant to the requirements in division (A) above:
(1) Failure to meet the applicable provisions of law;
(2) Violation of the rules and regulations pertaining to utility service;
(3) Willful or negligent waste of service due to improper or imperfect pipes, fixtures, appliances, or otherwise;
(4) Molesting any meter, seal, or other equipment controlling or regulating the supply of utility service;
(5) Theft of diversion and/or use of service without payment thereof; or
(6) Vacancy of premises.
(Ord. 2017-02, passed - -2017)