Upon a consumer's failure to pay for any and all electric service within 20 days after receipt of a bill for the same or of an estimated bill, any deposit such customer may have with the Borough as hereinabove provided in §§
185-7 and/or
185-8 may be appropriated to the extent necessary to cover the bill in part or in full, as the case may be, without notice to the customer. If a subsequent delinquency occurs after the original deposit has been appropriated, the Borough may require an additional deposit amount per §§
185-8 and/or
185-9.
Whenever the supply of electricity is disconnected in accordance
herewith, the Borough shall not be liable for any damage, direct or
indirect, that may result from such disconnection. In all cases where
the supply of electricity is disconnected by reason of violation by
the customer of any of the provisions hereof or of any agreement with
the Borough for the purchase of electricity, there shall then become
due and payable, in addition to the bills in default, an early termination
charge in an amount equal to the monthly minimum charge for the unexpired
term of the agreement which shall represent the income reasonably
expected by the Borough during the unexpired term of the agreement.
General Rule. Unless the affected occupants agree to a proposed
termination, or the residential customer states in writing that the
affected premises are unoccupied, the Borough shall not terminate
service to a single meter multi-unit dwelling or any premises that
is not the residential customer's residence, except in compliance
with the following provisions, in addition to all other notice and
procedural provisions of this chapter (relating to notice procedures
prior to termination):
A. The Borough shall provide notice of proposed termination.
B. In addition to other required provisions of this section, a notice
pursuant to this section shall include a statement that the occupants
are not responsible for the delinquencies of the residential customer
and the date on or after which service will be terminated unless:
(1) Payment in full is received from the ratepayer or the grounds for
termination are otherwise eliminated; or
(2) A settlement or payment agreement is entered into between the residential
customer and the Borough; or
(3) The occupants agree to subscribe for future service individually
and this can be accomplished without a major revision in distribution
facilities or additional right-of-way acquisitions; or
(4) Where separate service cannot be instituted without a major revision
in distribution facilities or additional right-of-way acquisitions,
the occupants agree to be jointly and severally responsible for the
full amount of all future bills for service at the affected dwelling.
The consent of these occupants must be knowing and voluntary.
C. Where the residential customer arranges to make payment in accordance with Subsection
B(1) or
(2) of this section or where the occupants agree to subscribe for future service in accordance with Subsection
B(3) or
(4) of this section, the Borough shall consider the original grounds for termination eliminated and shall be prohibited from terminating service pursuant to those grounds. This section shall not affect the creditors' rights and remedies of the Borough otherwise permitted by law.
D. When occupants at a single meter multifamily dwelling agree to pay all future bills for service provided in Subsection
B(4) of this section and when any responsible person in a residential unit establishes credit, the amount of any required deposit or guarantee shall be reduced pro rata based on the number of residential units contained in the dwelling.
Third party notification. The Borough shall permit its residential
customer to designate a consenting individual or agency which is to
be sent, by the Borough, a duplicate copy of all reminder notices,
past due notices, delinquent account notices, or termination notices
of whatever kind issued by the Borough. When contact with a third
party is made, the Borough shall advise the third party of the pending
action and the efforts which must be taken to avoid termination. The
Borough shall:
A. Allow residential customer to designate third parties to receive
copies of a residential customer's or group of residential customers'
notices of termination of service;
B. Advise residential customers of the availability of such a third
party notification program and to encourage their use thereof; and
C. Solicit community groups and police to accept third party notices
in order to assist in preventing unnecessary terminations and protecting
public health and safety.
D. To send delinquent account notices to landlords regarding tenant
accounts.
In accordance with the authority set forth in the Municipal
Claims and Liens Act and the procedures set forth therein, the Borough may,
at the Borough's sole discretion, lien a property for unpaid amounts
past due for electric service provided to the property.
In accordance with the authority set forth in the Municipal
Claims and Liens Act and the procedures set forth therein, the Borough
may, at the Borough's sole discretion, lien a property for unpaid
amounts past due for electric service provided to the property.
A fee for furnishing and providing, by mail or otherwise, information
pertaining to electrical rate and bill data, including but not limited
to certifications regarding the status of payment of any electrical
bill for any single parcel within the Borough of Lansdale, shall be
established and changed from time to time by resolution of the Lansdale
Borough Council.
The Borough of Lansdale, upon request of a Borough resident,
will provide a written credit reference regarding the payment of electric
utility bills. This reference will only relate to the requestor's
account. There will be a monetary charge for this service to reimburse
the Borough for costs. Said charge shall be established and changed
from time to time by resolution of the Lansdale Borough Council.