(A)
An advance deposit of $60 shall be required of all utility service consumers that provide a favorable credit reference from a previous utility supplier which is received at the Finance Office within two weeks of connection of service, and no consumer shall be connected until the advance deposits have been paid. A favorable credit reference is one based upon utility service provided within the previous year, and shall be for utility service that was connected for not less than one continuous year. Failure to produce a favorable utility credit reference shall result in immediate disconnection of service unless the consumer deposits $200 as an additional deposit. The additional deposit will be carried as a credit to the consumer's account for one year, to be returned to the consumer provided that utility payments have been received in the Finance Office by the tenth day of each month for that preceding year, or until final settlement is made. Any person residing within or without the city who desires water service from the city shall submit a deposit of $40 that shall be carried as a credit to the consumer's account until final settlement is made.
(B) Payments not received by the Finance Office on or before the tenth day of each month shall be considered delinquent and subject to disconnect. An evaluation of delinquent accounts shall be done by the Finance Office and disconnect notices prepared. A termination notice shall be sent to the customer by the fifteenth day of the month advising that if the delinquent account is not paid in full by the twenty-fifth day of the month, the electrical service shall be disconnected. Once the disconnect order has been issued by the Finance Office, the service will not be reconnected that same day unless the customer pays all delinquencies and fees, including the disconnect fee. Payments or arrangements made after 3:30 p.m. will not result in reconnection until the following day. The consumer may contact the Finance Officer and appeal the bill per the chapter process. If the Finance Officer deems appropriate, agreements can be made to schedule payments for the delinquent and current billings. If a customer is not satisfied with the Finance Officer's decision, said customer may appeal to the Utility Committee and/or full City Council.
(C) Following disconnection of the electrical service, if water continues to be consumed within the premises, regular utility bills shall continue to be sent for water and sewer charges; and if the water and sewer charges are not paid in full, or if only water charges are paid but sewer charges are not paid, then the disconnection process set forth above shall be implemented, and if such charges are not paid following the disconnection notice, then the water service shall be shut off, and will not be reconnected until all delinquent utility charges, together with any applicable fees set forth herein, are paid in full.
(D) Delinquent bills that remain unpaid 20 days after the original billing date shall be subject to late fee and interest charges. If a delinquent bill is less than $200 the late fee assessed shall be $10. Any delinquent bill exceeding $200 shall be assessed a late fee in the amount of $10 plus 2.5% interest. The City Council reserves the right and authority to review and adjust any late fees through resolution of said City Council.
(E) When the electrical service has been disconnected due to non-payment, it shall not be reconnected until all back-utility charges, a delinquent account fee and a disconnect fee have all been paid in full to the Finance Office. The revenue generated thereby shall be for electrical fund purposes.
(F) Payment arrangements shall not be allowed for accounts that have had their utility service disconnected without the approval of the Finance Officer.
(G) Appeals on disputed charges shall be addressed to the Finance Officer, by written notice, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., local time, Monday through Friday. The customer shall be given an opportunity to appeal the decision of the Finance Officer if the appeal is denied at that level. All such appeals on disputed charges shall be brought before the Finance Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting and service shall be continued until the appeal is heard. If no resolution is reached through the Finance Committee, the disputed charge shall be brought before the City Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting and service shall continue until the appeal is heard.
(Prior Code, § 4.01.04) (Ord. 550, passed - -; Ord. 731, passed - -; Ord. 735, passed - -; Ord. 796, passed - -; Ord. 835, passed - -; Ord. 847, passed - -; Ord. 876, passed - -; Ord. 941, passed 12-16-2019; Ord. 1026, passed 4-18-2022)